Plenty of 'free spirits' - Scott Fardy delighted with Mack Hansen impact

It's not just Mack Hansen’s game that has come on in leaps and bounds since he made the switch to Connacht and Ireland, says Scott Fardy.

The Australia-born winger, who moved to Ireland in 2021 and soon became a regular under national team head coach Andy Farrell, was certainly more shy and retiring when he and Fardy, now Connacht’s defence coach, trained together at the Brumbies.

Their paths crossed at the Super Rugby club just before Fardy joined Leinster in 2017.

Fardy was added to Connacht’s coaching ticket earlier this year but had been keeping a keen eye on the 25-year-old, who’s expected to return to provincial action, following his World Cup exploits, against Leinster at the start of next month.

"I trained with Mack a long time ago, he’s talked more since I’ve been here," the 39-year-old told RTÉ Sport ahead of Connacht’s BKT URC clash with the Bulls on Saturday (3pm, live on RTÉ and RTÉ Player).

"When I left he was a young rookie at the Brumbies. He didn’t say much.

"I’ve heard more words out of his mouth since I’ve arrived here in [the last] six months than I knew the whole time when I was in Canberra.

"It’s good. When he came over here I was just really excited for him to get his opportunity to play here at Connacht, but also to go on and be an international player that he is.

"I’m looking forward to working with him when he’s available in the next few weeks.

"He’s a quality player and the boys are very proud of what he’s achieved over the last few years."

Hansen, whose mother comes from Cork, has been a revelation since moving over.

He made his international debut at the start of the 2022 Six Nations and the former electrician has scored nine tries in 21 caps since, including grabbing the only try of Ireland’s 13-8