ITV forced to apologise for Mark Hansen’s X-rated interview live on TV after Rugby World Cup win over South Africa
MACK HANSEN is not unfamiliar with verbal faux-pas when the moment creates the mood.
The Connacht winger famously dropped an F-bomb after Ireland’s win over Italy in the Six Nations.
That victory in Rome, in which Hansen was named Man of the Match after a brace of tries, maintained their hopes of winning the Grand Slam, as they eventually did.
And after Andy Farrell’s men boosted their World Cup chances with a historic 13-8 win over South Africa on Saturday night, the 25-year-old was forced to apologise after another slip of the tongue.
Being interviewed by ITV, Hansen said: “It was pretty much like a Grand Slam on steroids out there. It was crazy.
“It said that there were 80,000, it seemed like there were like f***ing….Oh pardon. Pardon again. Damn.
“It seemed like there were 800,000,” he added before looking off camera at a presumably bemused producer.
He continued: “It was incredible and we needed every single one of them out there tonight to get that job done against a really good South Africa team.”
ITV Sport presenter Mark Pougatch then also apologised for the F bomb, although fans did not seem to mind.
One responded: “Second time this year Mack Hansen has dropped the F bomb on live TV!”
Another hailed: “Mack with another gem of an interview. Can he be interviewed after every match?”
Someone else said: “Banter interview”
HISTORY MADE
Hansen excitement was entirely understandable considering what the team achieved in Paris.
The first time World Cup meeting between the two heavyweights lived up to the billing with an impossibly physical battle playing out in front of a fervent crowd.
Eighty-thousand people turned out to the Stade de France, with the Irish contingent vocal up to and beyond the end, including another spine-tingling rendition of ‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries.
Andy Farrell said: “That was a proper game, a game that had absolutely everything, ebbs and flows.
“How we managed to stay on point mentally was outstanding.
“First half, I thought we had the rub of the green a little bit in terms of territory.
“But it was certainly roles reversed in the second half.
“And how we kept our heads, getting a couple of penalties at the end when it really mattered is a real plus side of our performance.
“South Africa put us under pressure but we have been good at always finding a way.
“It’s wonderful to win, but there’s not much in it between two good sides.
“The best thing about it for us is get to feel the intensity of a big game in the World Cup and know what it feels like further down the line.
“As the competition goes on, we’ll need to be better.”
Captain Johnny Sexton continued: “I think we’ve some big wins in pool stages before, that’s right up there when you play against the reigning world champions.
“I thought we fronted up and gave some good stuff ourselves in that regard, it’s right up there. We’ve got to make it count now.”