Mack Hansen is one that got away claims a Wallabies coach who knew why the Connacht recruit would love Ireland.
Such has been the impact of the mustachioed winger in the short time he has been here that, along with fellow 24-year-old Dan Sheehan, he has made World Rugby's four-man shortlist for Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Hansen only made his Test debut last February but will be a marked man if he plays against the country of his birth.
READ MORE: Andy Farrell, Dan Sheehan and Mack Hansen among World Rugby nominees for end of year awards
Dan McKellar, the Australia assistant coach, knows the Canberra man from their time together at the Brumbies - and knows what the Wallabies lost with Hansen's Galway move.
"He’s always had that potential to kick on," said McKellar.
"You’re happy for the individual. You’re disappointed he’s wearing green this weekend and not wearing gold.
"That was the career path that he took, others do the same. It’s pretty commonplace in international rugby. He’s not the only guy in the Irish side with foreign heritage.
"You’re pleased for him and understand he’ll be a threat on Saturday."
In fact, McKellar took a punt on a move to Ireland himself as a 25-year-old. He joined Wicklow RFC as a player-coach in 2002.
"It was my first coaching job, a great experience," he said.
"I went to Wicklow rugby club and coached them for a year. I still had the dream to be a professional player but coaching was always something that I wanted to do and they gave me an opportunity.
“I was a young man really, coaching blokes 10 years older than me. So I’ll duck down to Wicklow during the week and have a pint with them and say ‘g’day’. They’re good people and great memories.”
He will catch up with Hansen, too, describing the Ireland star as a "good mate and a good man, a really loveable character".
McKellar first met Hansen when he was 17, just out of school and the Brumbies coach instantly recognised a "natural footballer".
He said: "I remember the time he came in and said he was going to Connacht. I knew he’d love Ireland and they’d love him.
"He’s come over here and earned their respect through his performances. He’s really kicked on, he’s a different player to what the Irish are probably used to.
"He’s a winger but gets in at first recover and he distributes. He often will throw a pass the creates a line break or is a try assist. He’ll score them as well.
"It was sad to see him go. He left Canberra and the Brumbies because he wanted a new life experience.
"If you asked Mack if he was going to be playing for Ireland six to 12 months into that experience, he probably would have laughed. He’s earned that right. He’s in a good place.
"Happy for him, but hopefully we keep him quiet on Saturday."
As it happens, McKellar also coached Ireland's other Aussie, Finlay Bealham.
Just a month into his coaching stint with the Tuggeranong Vikings, McKellar had a visitor to his office - Bealham, a young prop at the time, told the coach that he had a chance to go to Connacht's academy.
"I said ‘jump at it'," said McKellar.
"Again, what a progression for him and he’s really developed into a really good international tight-head prop and forged out a pretty impressive career over here.
"Two Canberra boys that I know well and pleased for them."
Australia are looking for a response after a much-changed side lost for the first time to Italy in Florence, but McKellar believes Ireland are the world's top team right now.
"They've got all areas of their game in really good shape," he stated.
"They’ve got a good set-piece, Johnny (Sexton) just orchestrates, he just sits in the pocket and directs, and he's one of the best players in the world and just getting better and better with age.
"The detail around their game, the lines, the depth, the width, all the little micro skills that you look at - then defensively they can play physically, as they showed against South Africa.
"So there's threats across the park. They’re the full package."
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