Connacht 61

Brive 5

By JOHN FALLON AT THE SPORTSGROUND

MACK Hansen could provide Andy Farrell with an Irish full-back option with the bolter from last year’s Six Nations starring in that role for Connacht against Brive at the Sportsground on Saturday.

Connacht director of rugby Andy Friend revealed that Hansen made it clear to him when he arrived from Australia that Hansen declared full-back was his preferred option.

But the Connacht boss slotted him on the wing with immediate success that saw Farrell draft the Australian into his Irish squad and Hansen hasn’t looked back since.

Friend was thrilled with the role the 24-year old played as Connacht thrashed a second string Brive side — they day-tripped from France for the game — by 61-5 to book a place in the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup.

“When he first got here he said his best position is 15, but we stuck him on the wing and he was doing so well there we didn’t want to change it to be honest,” said Friend.

“He had a few chances last year, but we felt wing was where he looked most comfortable. It was a wise selection from Pete Wilkins to throw him in at 15 and he did pretty well, didn’t he?”

Connacht are now into the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup and despite their lack of consistency in the URC they can now look forward to Newcastle Falcons this weekend with renewed optimism.

Friend’s side hope to land home advantage in the knockout stages with Alex Wootton, making only his third start of the season, putting his hand up with a brilliant hat-trick.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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