It has been a remarkable seven months for Mack Hansen since moving to Ireland from Australia.
Hansen left the Brumbies in Canberra to move to Galway and join Connacht, and the winger has not looked back.
The 23-year-old has scored six tries in nine matches for the Westerners and immediately become a fan favourite at the Sportsground.
And it hasn't taken long for Hansen to catch the eye of Ireland boss Andy Farrell. Hansen qualifies to play for Ireland through his Cork-born mother, Diana O’Shea, whose family moved to Australia at the age of seven.
Mack's father, Craig, is a Sydney man, where Hansen was born before the family moved to Canberra when he was young.
Hansen was called up to the Irish squad during the autumn series and impressed the coaches.
Now he has has beaten off competition from the likes of Keith Earls, Jordan Larmour and Robert Baloucoune to start for Ireland on the left wing in their Six Nations opener against Wales.
What are his strengths? Well, in his eight URC appearances for Connacht this season he leads the competition in defenders beaten (38), total metres made (556) and is third in the amount of carries (90).
"He looks as though he is going to make something happen every time he gets on the ball," said Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll of Hansen.
"He's busy for work. I think it's a really clever selection, it doesn't feel like a shock selection."
Ireland boss Farrell is in no doubt that Farrell has all the attributes to make it at the top level.
"He has got all the skill, he is nice and calm in his manner on the field," said the Ireland boss.
“He tends to be really chilled, sees pictures nice and early because he's ahead of the game.
“And, look, it is his first cap, of course there will be things he will get wrong and we will assess that and build through the competition with him.
“He is a natural footballer. He has played quite a lot of rugby as a 15, maybe something we will look at down the line with him as well.
“He has played quite a bit at 10 and he's deceptively quick as well.
"So we're excited to get Mack up and running."
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