Sean Jansen says playing against birth nation New Zealand 'would be a dream'
Ireland's Sean Jansen with his first cap after making his debut for Ireland. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho
A tick over four years ago Sean Jansen left New Zealand rugby after failing to make a Super Rugby side. Now, the 27-year-old is knocking on the door to take on the All Blacks on Saturday at Eden Park.
Indeed, Jansen has rocketed into contention to face his countrymen after delivering an eye-catching debut for Ireland last weekend in their 36-20 win over Japan in Newcastle.
With family and friends crossing the ditch to watch him make his Test debut, Jansen described it as the “best week of my life”.
So how would returning to New Zealand and playing against the All Blacks be?
“It would be a dream man, it would be a dream, especially to break that record at Eden Park,” said Jansen, whose mother, Kathleen, is Irish.
“So, we'll see what happens next week, but I can't wait to get involved in the week.” Jansen’s extraordinary rise comes less than five years after he couldn’t quite crack the big smoke in Super Rugby.
But after taking some advice from his uncle and deciding to send out some highlights, Jansen quickly landed an interested suitor. Not just anyone either, with the soon-to-be-England coach Steve Borthwick getting on the blower.
“When I was in New Zealand I wasn't really getting much of a look and then my uncle told me to make a highlight video,” Jansen said.
“He worked for the Institute of Sport in Canberra and then he sent my highlight video around and then two weeks later I had a phone call from Steve Borthwick and then I was going to the Tigers.
“Without him who knows where I would be, but it's just kind of a full circle moment, especially to play here and being close to where my family live.
“Obviously we're very Irish and had a load of Irish family here as well, but it's just cool that it was a small flight for them to come over.”
It probably comes as no surprise that his uncle, Luke, was on hand in Newcastle when Jansen was presented his matchday jersey.
“He was the one that made the highlight video for me that originally got me the contract in England, and so he came to my jersey presentation on Thursday and he had a bit of a tear in his eye. But it's just been one of those weeks. It’s been amazing.”
While Jansen only just made his debut in the ultra-competitive Irish back-row, the third-year Connacht loose-forward has been on Ireland’s radar for some time.
He signed for Connacht ahead of the 2023 World Cup and by early 2025 was playing for Ireland A.
Jansen said the desire to pull on the green jersey has only strengthened since arriving on the Emerald Isle.
“I think last season it was definitely something that I really wanted. It was always something I wanted to do. It was the reason I signed in Ireland,” he said.
“I've been supporting Ireland since I was a kid. My mum's full Ireland, we've always been in a half Irish household and it was always a dream but it was kind of one of the ones you didn't know.”
But like so many players in Galway, dreams have increasingly become a reality under respected boss Stuart Lancaster, who joined the province after leaving French Top 14 outfit, Racing 92.
“Then I think this season with Stu coming in with Connacht and the way we've been going, it's just given me more and more confidence and it's given the boys confidence,” Jansen said.
That confidence was certainly on display against the Brave Blossoms, as Jansen got stuck in a busy performance on both sides of the ball, which saw him awarded player of the match.
His strong performance didn’t go unnoticed by the big boss either.
“How Sean Jansen actually attacked the game, as a debutant, it’s a learning for everyone, y’know?” Farrell said.
“To be able to get the man of the match and play as he did first up is a massive credit to him, so that’s great learnings for anyone coming in.” He’s now also given Farrell a selection headache, too.
Although Farrell could start Tadhg Beirne at blindside flanker in a back-row alongside Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan, Jansen could well feature as a replacement.
Jansen said he was pleased to repay Farrell’s faith.
“After the game he just said he was happy for me, you know, get player of the day on your debut is just a crazy one,” Jansen said.
“So, he's just very happy for me, very positive and it's good.” Jansen added: “It wasn't a perfect game, but I thought I had a good game and I put a good foot down. But we've got such great players, especially in the back row, so I'm just happy to be involved as much as I can. Hopefully I'm playing, but if not then I'm there to support the boys and get us over the line.
“I want more and more. This is only the start, it's not the ceiling, so I want more and more.” If he does get the nod, Jansen said Ireland’s manager would be busy sorting him out some tickets.
“The manager is probably going to give me a bit of stick because I need about 30-40 tickets if I'm playing in that game,” the Dunedin-born back-rower said.
“We'll just flow into next week and Faz was just talking, we're lucky to be able to go there and play at Eden Park.
“Not many teams get to play at Eden Park, so it's a massive opportunity for us to come and hopefully break that record.”
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