When Mack Hansen lines out at the Stade de France on Saturday, it'll be one day shy of two years since the Australia native made his first appearance in a Connacht shirt.
The opening game of the 2021/22 BKT United Rugby Championship saw Connacht travel to Cardiff on 24 September 2021, with Andy Friend handing a debut on the left wing to their new signing from the Brumbies.
It was an inauspicious start from the debutant, yellow-carded on 68 minutes after cynically taking out Owen Lane, and Connacht would go on to lose 33-21. On first glance, he didn't look like an Ireland international in-waiting.
A week later, the real Mack Hansen announced himself at the Sportsground with a stunning breakaway try and followed it up with another a week later versus the Dragons. When he terrorised Ulster at the Aviva Stadium a few weeks after that he was up to four tries in five games, and Andy Farrell had taken note.
The Ireland coach brought him into camp for a look during the Autumn Nations Series in 2021, and clearly liked what he saw, handing him a debut in the Six Nations opener in 2022 against Wales. He was player of the match that afternoon, and a week later scored a spectacular try from a kick-off against France in Paris.
He was a still a relative unknown to the wider rugby world back then, but when he returns to the Stade de France on Saturday for the World Cup Pool B meeting with South Africa, he'll do so as one of the most recognisable faces in the game.
"It's probably everything you dream of when you’re growing up, playing in these sorts of games, you don’t know if it’s ever going to happen," he says ahead of tomorrow's meeting with the Springboks.
The 25-year-old's fit into the Irish system has been seamless.
Whether he's in the news for his wacky haircuts, viral interviews or tattoos of his coaches and team-mates, his ability to marry all of those quirky traits with consistent performances has made him one of the most popular players in the country.
Eight tries in 19 caps for Ireland stands up on its own, and while his unpredictability with the ball in hand produces the highlight reels, he's shown himself to be just as reliable at the boring stuff; positioning in defence, kicking, and kick-chasing.
"This is what we've been working towards for the last three years I’ve been here, and four years for the lad, who have been under this coaching staff.
"We’re super-excited for it. It’s a big step up from the previous games we’ve had but it’s everything we’ve been working for," he added.
While the build-up to this game has been dominated by the size and quantity of the South Africa forwards, Hansen will be tasked with keeping two of their smaller players quiet.
In Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, the world champions have a pair of whippets out wide, and Hansen is aware of the task ahead of him.
"They're two of the best wingers in the world, Kolbe arguably one of the best of all time as well."
Hansen found himself heavily involved when the sides met back in November, tipped over onto his head by Kolbe in the opening half as the South African picked up a yellow card (below), while the Irish wing would then score his side's second try on 50 minutes.
"I was lucky enough to have a game, sort of, against Kolbe in the autumn and same with Kurt-Lee as well, and I played against him with the Bulls.
"You can't really get used to playing these two lads but I’ve played them a couple of times which is nice, and I have my thing that I’ll try to do before a game to get ready for it and get my mindset ready, and the rest will come down to how I perform.
"That’s all I’m looking at the moment, not what they’ll bring but what I can bring to stop them.
"For something like this to finally come around, playing in a World Cup against the defending champions is something you always hoped to be involved in.
"You get the opportunity to get this chance, to play with this team, it’s super special.
"There’s a few nerves here and there but that’s kind of what it’s all about. Rugby is made for these sort of games. To be involved in it is incredible."
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