Mike Catt confirms Mack Hansen fit, dismisses photographer controversy

Assistant Coach Mike Catt at Ireland's Captain's Run in Stade de France, Paris, France 13/10/2023

Mack Hansen has been given the green light to start Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final clash with New Zealand on Saturday night after successfully coming through the team’s captain’s run training session at Stade de France on Friday.

The play-making wing had failed to complete the first half of last Saturday’s final pool game, a 36-14 victory over Scotland, having picked up a calf problem but was named in Andy Farrell’s starting line-up to face the All Blacks on Thursday.

A day later, Hansen took a full part in training at the match venue, his problematic calf strapped but moving freely as the matchday squad drilled attacking moves.

“Yeah, everybody is fit,” attack coach Mike Catt said following the session at Stade de France. “Mack (is) looking sprightly as ever. Yeah, he’s gone well. He is all good to run freely.” 

Ireland lock James Ryan, who failed to pass fit for Saturday’s last-eight game following a midweek procedure on a wrist, also trained with both wrists strapped, as did centre Robbie Henshaw, who has been managing a hamstring issue and will not face the All Blacks. Yet Keith Earls, also nursing a hamstring strain, sat out the session.

“James is doing really well,” Catt said. “As you saw Robbie Henshaw and James were obviously out there at training this morning. They are progressing really nicely, so they will be available for next week.” 

Catt laughed off a suggestion made by a New Zealand journalist that Ireland had sent an “official team photographer” to an open All Blacks training session outside Paris on Thursday. The Irish Examiner understands an Irish agency photographer who sometimes works under contract to the IRFU, had attended the training session, as was within their rights, a point confirmed by a World Rugby spokesperson during Friday’s media conference.

"The rules say yes, as long as they're standing with the rest of the photographers, they can,” the World Rugby man said while Ireland’s team spokesperson had no knowledge of express instruction for the photographer to attend on their behalf.

"I don't know. The agency could have been there working,” the IRFU man said.