Mack Hansen's absence from Ireland XV for RWC opener 'not down to disciplinary reasons'

Keith Earls starts instead of the Conancht man against Romania.

IN RESERVE: Ireland's Mack Hansen, who will not start against Romania on Saturday. 

Ireland’s management has denied star wing Mack Hansen has been kept out of Saturday’s team to face Romania for disciplinary reasons.

Hansen had been expected to take his place in a full-strength backline for Ireland’s Rugby World Cup opener at Stade de Bordeaux but Test centurion Keith Earls was selected instead in a back three also featuring fellow wing James Lowe and full-back Hugo Keenan.

Head coach Andy Farrell had confirmed at Thursday’s team announcement that the 25-year-old, who has scored seven tries in 16 Test matches since his debut against Wales in February 2022, was not injured.

He did not offer an explanation for Hansen’s absence but when asked about the 18 potential World Cup debutants in his 33-player squad, of which the Connacht wing is one, Farrell suggested in part of his answer that he had been displeased by unnamed players’ behaviour during their recent pre-tournament training camp in Biarritz.

“I said to you in the Samoa week going to Biarritz, the reason we went there is that there’s a lot of distraction that goes on, certainly when you’re in a hotel that’s on the beach,” Farrell had said. “Some people handled that brilliantly, some people didn’t. Learning from those experiences is pretty important because you don’t get second chances after this in World Cups.” 

A day later following Ireland’s eve of match training session at the 42,115-capacity Stade de Bordeaux, attack coach Mike Catt was asked initially why Hansen was not in the matchday squad to face Romania.

“Good question really, it’s a long tournament first and foremost and there is making sure that we look after everybody,” Catt replied.

“In the same breath there is good competition in that area too. There is nothing that Mack has done wrong. It’s not that he, you know, he’s performed badly at all. He’s done exceptionally well in his pre-season games and like we say, it’s a long competition and we need to keep people fresh too.” 

Asked specifically if Hansen was out of the team for disciplinary reasons, the assistant coach replied: “Not at all. No.” Catt replied.

At the same media conference, starting lock James Ryan said Ireland could not afford to build into the tournament and had to hit the ground running against the Pool B minnows.

IN CAMP: Assistant coach Mike Catt during a media conference after the Ireland rugby squad captain's run at the Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

“It’s definitely not about easing ourselves in,” Ryan said. “I think if we’re going to take this competition seriously I don’t think you can ease yourself into any game. We’ve got to go in with the right mentality.

“Tomorrow is about playing with real intent and putting in a performance that we know we’re capable of. We were a bit off a little bit in a couple of the pre-season games, and we didn’t hit that 80-minute performance we were looking for.

“Tomorrow for us is about winning every moment, or winning as many moments as we can. We don’t want to drift or lose 10 minutes or 15 minutes. We’re definitely striving for the full 80-minute performance tomorrow that we can be proud of, and hopefully give the Irish people there tomorrow something to cheer about.”