Mack Hansen’s lengthy rant over the officiating in Connacht’s United Rugby Championship loss against Leinster was “out of order” – according to one Irish rugby legend.
The Connacht wing took centre stage in the post-match press conference next to head coach Pete Wilkins as he unleashed a volley of criticism at referee Chris Busby and the TMOs over a number of decisions he felt had gone against his side in the Aviva Stadium clash.
During the first half, Connacht captain Cian Prendergast aired his frustration that Busby was only consulting with his TMOs when the crowd reacted to footage on the big screen. Elsewhere, a head-hit on Bundee Aki by Jordie Barrett went unpunished, while Josh Ioane left the pitch for a HIA after Charlie Tector made contact as he fell.
‘To be honest, it felt like we were getting reffed out of the game for the first 40 minutes, pretty much,’ Hansen said, before later interrupting his head coach to expand on his complaints. ‘Can I say something real quick about the situation? Like, I feel like we get this every week. We never get any calls, ever.
‘I’ve been feeling this for years now. Like, you can’t possibly tell me yourselves sitting there, like checking the Gus McCarthy one.. How much? How much did they check that, 10, 11 times?
‘Bundee gets a direct hit to the head, it’s quite obvious, no call…It’s like we get that every time so you can hear the frustration in my voice ‘cos it’s starting to get to the point where honestly, it’s bulls**t and it’s starting to get really frustrating for us because people will say we are an inconsistent team but, Jesus Christ, when you are getting some of the calls we’re getting like, of course, you are going to be.’
“We never get any calls, ever. It’s bullshit”
— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) December 21, 2024
Mack Hansen not holding back…#BKTURCpic.twitter.com/ADJyJ5GeJn
The tirade went on and caused a big stir in the wake of the URC interpro, but former Ireland out-half Tony Ward argued that Hansen’s complaints were “out of order” and “against the ethos of the game”.
‘I’m always loath to criticise referees as without them we would have no game,’ he wrote in the Irish Independent. ‘It can be a thankless task and to that end I disagree with Mack Hansen’s post-match outburst against Chris Busby and Hansen’s claim of perceived bias of officialdom against Connacht entirely.
‘The Connacht and Irish winger is out of order, and I view this as an unwelcome development and very much against the ethos of the game.
‘I noticed too that Ross Byrne has joined the growing band of onfield protesters when waving dismissively at assistant referees (touch judges) for not putting up the flag where he (the kicker) feels the resultant lineout should be. Unfortunately, it is but more of the ‘gallery playing’ and growing lack of respect the game could well do without.’