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Connacht's Mack Hansen (file photo). James Crombie/INPHO

'I don't agree with the way he did it, but I respect him also for being honest'

Bernard Jackman joined Murray Kinsella for the final episode of Rugby Weekly Extra before Christmas.

MACK HANSENโ€™S CONTROVERSIAL post-match comments after Saturdayโ€™s game between Connacht and Leinster were examined by Bernard Jackman and Murray Kinsella on Mondayโ€™s edition of Rugby Weekly Extra, the podcast for subscribers to The 42

โ€œI feel that Mack Hanen was honestly sharing his frustrations. Heโ€™s probably trying to protect his team and explain why they get frustrated, and maybe that theyโ€™re inconsistent because they arenโ€™t getting a fair crack at it,โ€ Jackman said.

โ€œI donโ€™t agree with the way he did it, but I respect him also for being honest, and Iโ€™m fascinated to see how itโ€™s dealt with. I donโ€™t have an issue with him doing it, to be fair. 

โ€œConnacht either wanted it to happen orโ€ฆwhy was he in the press conference, when heโ€™s obviously emotionally upset?

โ€œIt wonโ€™t become clear on the record, but off the record weโ€™ll find out what led to this. It seems to me that there is more to this than just that one game.โ€

Kinsella said: โ€œHeโ€™s definitely speaking as a spokesperson for Connacht, because he said itโ€™s getting to the point where itโ€™s really starting to piss them off.โ€

โ€œYou could hear frustration in the interactions with the referee from very early in the game. Even Cian Prendergast saying [to the referee] that when the crowd roared, that youโ€™re looking at that stuff โ€“ thereโ€™s a name for that, itโ€™s home advantage, and that happens everywhere. 

โ€œThatโ€™s literally (the) home fansโ€™ job. Thatโ€™s why you want to be at home, so fans can get on the referees back. Itโ€™s obvious that the home team and the bigger team get the burden of the call and thatโ€™s tough for Connacht.

โ€œMack missed a full half season of his career from an illegal side entry and got badly injured. Thatโ€™s part of his personal experience of the world. You want to appreciate that and not dismiss it.

โ€œBut it is a very unusual way to go about it and itโ€™s so unfamiliar, for rugby in particular, for a player to be so pointed and suggest bias,โ€ Kinsella said.

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