Forget the pressure of a Test debut for your adopted country, in front of 51,700 fans against the Six Nations champions.
Ireland’s new folk hero Mack Hansen handled that just fine, with the crafty Canberran winning man of the match last weekend in a 29-7 win over Wales.
The real stress came later in the Dublin night when the winger was tasked with his karaoke initiation into the national team.
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“That was probably one of the most nerve wracking bits of the night, having to get up and sing in front of everyone,” Hansen told Virgin Media.
“I nailed all of them, as was expected. I sang Sweet Caroline. That is my go to whenever I have to get up and sing, whether it’s at a pub or for an initiation. That’s my go to song.”
Hansen, the former Brumbies man who qualifies for Ireland through his Cork-born mother, said his dizzying debut had finally sunk in.
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“It was tough to get my head around for sure. I called my parents around 20 minutes after the game. They were asking me all these questions and I didn’t even realise that I pretty much wasn’t talking back to them at all, I was in absolute shock.”
Test rugby is unforgiving and unrelenting and Hansen must now refocus for Sunday’s (3.40am AEDT) date with Les Bleus at the Stade de France in Paris.
It is a clash between the two title favourites and form teams in world rugby.
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“It’s a different week now and a different beast in France,” Hansen said.
“I kind of had to switch my mindset pretty quick.”
Ireland’s task has been made more difficult with the scratching of star five-eighth Jonathan Sexton, who injured his hamstring on Wednesday.
Replacing Sexton is Joey Carbery as coach Andy Farrell put a positive spin on facing France without his main driver.
“It’s not just about Joey, can he handle a big game in Paris? It’s about us as a squad,” Farrell said.
“That’s what Johnny does. He makes sure the whole group is exactly where it should be. But it’s not just about the No.10.”
Ireland is strong across the board, hence nine straight wins since losing to France in Dublin a year ago.
The reserves have been bolstered by the return of Lions Iain Henderson and Robbie Henshaw from injury.
France has loaded its bench, too, with six forwards, following a six day turnaround.
“We have the finishers who will enable us to win the last 20 minutes of the game,” coach Fabien Galthie said.
“We are preparing to unleash them.”
Otherwise, there’s two changes to the starting lineup that was scrappy in putting away Italy 37-10 last Sunday.
Yoram Moefana has replaced the injured Jonathan Danty at centre, and flanker Francois Cros has taken Dylan Cretin’s place.
Moefana set up left winger Gabin Villiere’s hat trick try against Italy, but containing standout Irish midfielder Bundee Aki will be tougher.
“Yoram’s ready… physically, technically and psychologically,” Galthie promises.
“His teammates will ensure he plays his own game so his natural talent comes out, and he has a lot of it.”
Cameron Woki continues at lock after burly tackler Bernard Le Roux was surprisingly left out altogether.
“Cameron Woki is tough, he’s a young and combative player. Of course, Bernard counts a lot for us, he’s a great fighter. (But) I think we’ve got enough to face up to the toughness of Ireland’s pack.”
Sexton’s absence gives France another edge, in the halves which feature world player of the year Antoine Dupont alongside the silky Romain Ntamack.
But Ntamack has preferred to sweet talk Ireland.
“Even though Ireland are coming to Stade de France I don’t think you can just call them the outsiders,” Ntamack says.
“We’ll afford them the status of favorites they fully deserve.”
FRANCE (15-1): Melvyn Jaminet, Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Yoram Moefana, Gabin Villiere, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (c), Anthony Jelonch, Gregory Alldritt, Francois Cros, Paul Willemse, Cameron Woki, Uini Atonio, Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille
Reserves: Peato Mauvaka, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Demba Bamba, Romain Taofifenua, Thibaud Flament, Dylan Cretin, Maxime Lucu, Thomas Ramos
IRELAND (15-1): Hugo Keenan, Andrew Conway, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, James Ryan (C), Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter
Reserves: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Jack Carty, Robbie Henshaw
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