Newcastle Falcons 35

Connacht 21

By JOHN FALLON AT KINGSTON PARK

IRISH coach Andy Farrell said that Mack Hansen’s ability to cover full-back as well as the wings will make him the sort of player who will be invaluable for the World Cup in France later this year.

And Farrell, speaking at the launch of the Six Nations in London on Monday, also said he was not concerned about the lack of game-time Bundee Aki has had for Connacht this season.

Aki was again absent when Connacht blew a glorious chance of staying in Ireland all the way to the conclusion of this season’s Challenge Cup with an error-ridden performance being punished by a Newcastle side already out of contention prior to Saturday’s tie at Kingston Park, having lost all three games in the competition.

Hansen again played at full-back for Connacht and while he too wasn’t immune to the plethora of mistakes which destroyed their hopes, the Irish coach sees him as a vital cog.

“We’ve put him there a few times ourselves, we know there’s talent there in that type of position and that’s exactly what the difference is between an international side and a club side. With a club side, you’ve got 50 players training all the time.

“In a club side, it tends to be ‘he’s the best in that position, he’s the second best in that position and he’s the third best’ whereas with the international side, when you fast forward, you can only pick 33 in the World Cup, it becomes pretty good that your number two in that position can play two or three positions and your number three in that position can play three or four positions. The likes of Mack being able to do that is pretty important for us.”

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.