Ireland winger Mack Hansen has won the 2022 Guinness Six Nations Player of Round 1 after enjoying a dream debut in his side’s 29-7 victory over Wales in Dublin.
The 23-year-old Connacht winger was a surprise name on Andy Farrell’s teamsheet but he settled into international rugby with aplomb against the defending champions at the Aviva Stadium.
Receiving the ball in space with barely a minute on the clock, it was his break that set up Bundee Aki’s first try in Dublin, with the winger also throwing the final pass for his provincial colleague.
And he was not done there, Hansen racked up 149 metres with ball in hand, the most of any player in Round 1, while also breaking three tackles in an all-action display.
In fact, so good was his performance that he was named Player of the Match – and the accolades just keep on coming, with Hansen also topping the public vote for Guinness Six Nations Player of Round 1.
Hansen’s superb debut earned him 34% of the fan vote, narrowly taking the win in the poll ahead of Scotland’s Darcy Graham after his Calcutta Cup exploits earned him 30%.
Graham’s teammate Matt Fagerson, who was named Player of the Match for his performance in the 20-17 win over England, finished in fourth with 12% of the public vote.
And third place went to France’s Gabin Villière, who scored a hat-trick in a Player of the Match display as Les Bleus kicked off their campaign with a 37-10 win over Italy.
Villière received 24% of the vote but nothing could overhaul Hansen in the eyes of voters, as he kickstarted the 2022 Guinness Six Nations in sensational style.
Guinness Six Nations Try of Round 1 vote result
Mack Hansen (IRELAND v Wales): 34% Darcy Graham (SCOTLAND v England): 30% Gabin Villière (FRANCE v Italy): 24% Matt Fagerson (SCOTLAND v England): 12%
