Mack Hansen's press conference candour 'really refreshing' - Stephen Ferris

Stephen Ferris feels it was "really refreshing" to see a player being as candid as Mack Hansen was on Saturday night after Connacht's defeat to Leinster in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

Ireland international Hansen's outspoken comments about the way he feels some Connacht's games have been officiated dominated the sports headlines for the remainder of the weekend as the 26-year-old let loose verbally in an extraordinary post-match press conference whilst sitting next to his head coach Pete Wilkins.

While Ferris acknowledged the use of a couple of expletives may have over-stepped the mark, the former Ulster and Ireland back row was otherwise stirred by Hansen's willingness to speak so forthrightly about his views rather than keeping his counsel.

"I think it was on everyone's (social media) timelines for a couple of days after it and I was reading Bernard Jackman, what he said about it. He didn't think it was the right sort of look but at the same time he said he totally agreed with the honesty and thought the honesty was great," he said.

"I think if that would have come from Pete Wilkins, it wouldn't have come across in any way the same as it did from Mack Hansen.

"As a former player, you sit in the changing room after some games and you go, 'Oh my goodness, that refereeing was terrible tonight' or 'why was he doing this or why was he doing that'?

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"All the players think it, of course they do and I'm sure all the coaches think it at times. But it's really refreshing for a