Mack Hansen urges caution when the Lions take on Western Force

Mack Hansen knows what is awaiting the British and Irish Lions’ in Perth on Saturday after being present as a spectator for the Brumbies’ famous upset of the tourists on their last visit to Australia.

Hansen starts on the right wing against Western Force at Optus Stadium where he will face some of his old Brumbies team-mates, including a former housemate in Bayley Kuenzle.

The 27-year-old was born and raised in Canberra and began his career playing for the most successful of Australia’s Super Rugby franchises before joining Connacht in 2021.

Selection for Ireland the following year was made possible through his Irish mother and 28 caps later he is on tour with the elite of British and Irish rugby, recalling a cautionary tale from 2013.

“I was at that Brumbies game with my dad and brother and the Brumbies beat the Lions, so these things do happen,” he said.

“We were sitting behind the goalposts watching it. It was mad. You don’t expect anyone to actually do it, but I talked to guys after that and they’d been pumped up for the game for weeks, working towards it.

“They saw it as the be-all and end-all. Also, guys are playing to try to get into the Wallabies as well, so there’s still a lot on the line for a lot of these teams.

“None of the games are going to be easy. Everyone wants to win – it’s not just us that want to win.

Sea of Blue vs Sea of Red