Australian-𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 Ireland winger Mack Hansen has launched an extraordinary spray after Connacht’s 20-12 defeat to Leinster.
It was a spicy clash in the URC as three people went to the bin at Aviva Stadium, with Hansen taking issue with two incidents that were not carded.
Hansen made his thoughts very clear as he blasted Chris Busby and the referee crew, all from the IRFU.
“I feel like we get this every week. We never get any calls, ever. I’ve been feeling this for years now,” Hansen said in a press conference that has gone viral via Brendan O’Brien on social media.
“You can’t possibly tell me yourselves sitting there, like checking the Gus McCarthy one, how much? How much did they check that, 10, 11 times? Bundee gets a direct hit to the head, it’s quite obvious, no call, doesn’t care.
“It’s like we get that every time so you can hear the frustration in my voice ‘cos it’s starting to get to the point where, honestly, it’s bull***t and it’s starting to get really frustrating for us ‘cos people will say we are an inconsistent team but when you are getting some of the calls we’re getting like, of course, you are going to be.
“I’m not making excuses by any means but like, when you just get it week after week, I feel it’s got to be spoken about because it’s just getting to the point where it’s starting to really piss us off because we just feel we’re getting played out of games and we never ever get any calls.”
A high tackle by former Chiefs playmaker Josh Ioane on Gus McCarthy was reviewed several times by the TMO and resulted in a penalty, while Bundee Aki was worse for wear after appearing to take a shoulder to the head from a Jordie Barrett clear out.
“Josh goes off with a direct hit to the head again and I was talking to the touchie and he goes, ‘oh, when you tackle you lead with the head. That doesn’t make any sense, that’s a penalty regardless,” Hansen continues.
“He’s actually said he’s hit him in the head with his head but because he was bent over it was fine or something like that, when he’s smacked him in the back of the head with his head and no call at all, not even a look back.
“…It just needs to be said. It’s really f*****g starting to get to us as a team.”
Leinster raced out to an early lead thanks to tries to Andrew Os𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧e and Charlie Tector.
Connacht rallied to get back into the game before the boot of Ross Byrne secured the win for Leinster.
It continues Barrett’s perfect start to his sabbatical after wins over Bristol and Clermont in the Champions Cup.
Leinster stays on top of the URC table whilst Connacht sit just outside the top eight.
