Mack Hansen’s Fire Fuels Lions’ Fight After Argentina Wake-Up Call
As the British and Irish Lions kick off their 2025 tour in Australia, winger Mack Hansen has stepped into the spotlight—not just for his talent on the field, but for his candid and passionate reflection on what this campaign means. Speaking ahead of his first start against Western Force, Hansen didn’t shy away from the disappointment of the Lions’ unexpected defeat to Argentina. His message? “The only team that can beat us is us.” That kind of raw honesty cuts through the usual pre-match bravado and signals a man—and a squad—on a mission.
Hansen’s debut against the Pumas may have been impressive off the bench, but he wasn’t basking in personal accolades. The Ireland wing, known for his laid-back charm, revealed a steely core beneath the surface. Despite officially earning his Lions stripes, the mood was subdued. “It was a real weird vibe,” he said. “We’ve got some of the best players in the world—you’re expected to win. Simple as that.”
That sense of expectation now fuels the urgency within the squad. They’re done making excuses. The loss was a wake-up call. Hansen knows the danger of letting your guard down. He’s been on the other side—watching from the stands as the Brumbies shocked the Lions in 2013. Now, he’s part of the team trying to avoid becoming the next cautionary tale.
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There’s something poetic in his story—an Aussie-born player, qualifying for the Lions through his Irish mother, facing down old friends from his Brumbies days, including his former housemate Bayley Kuenzle. But there’s no room for sentimentality. Hansen knows the Force will come hard, trying to claim their own once-in-a-lifetime scalp. “They’ve only got one game and then they’re on holidays,” he said. “They’ll be giving it everything.”
Despite not being the tallest, fastest, or strongest, Hansen brings a different edge. His game intelligence, spatial awareness, and tireless work rate are his trademarks—traits that Lions coach Andy Farrell values deeply. “I try to get involved off the ball, be a link, read the game,” Hansen explained, almost underplaying the cerebral quality that makes him so dangerous.
Nerves? He admits they hit him hard before kick-off. “I can barely eat, I feel sick. But I’d rather feel that than not be out there.” That vulnerability, coupled with his drive, paints the picture of a player grounded and hungry.
As the Lions face Western Force, it’s not just about tactics or physicality. It’s about pride, redemption, and setting a standard. Hansen knows the stakes. And if his words are anything to go by, this team understands that the biggest threat doesn’t come from the opposition—it comes from within.
That internal fire, reignited by defeat, might just be what makes this tour unforgettable.
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