🔗 Share this article

Following last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish squad to improve their game.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had faded late against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's finest display this year.

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's considerable talk about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this seems like home.

"Any time I have to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you may not get that opportunity again.

"My whole focus this week was to go out and perform what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Good athletes don't need excuses'

After twenty-eight appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the first time with several players unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a case of continuing where he finished during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before injury ended his aspiration of making the international team.

Having come back recently, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

The coach had indicated that the player was especially determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- club player gave his manager a positive team dilemma for future matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those different coloured shoes!'," commented Farrell, referring to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that himself anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good players require no justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to understand his preparation and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

The player's efforts also earned commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the front," commented the former international coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the best Australian performer on the field. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes the player a strong fit at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"His aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was putting the possession back on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was securing the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was the team bookending the game with two strong periods.

Hansen's first two tries occurred in the first 11 minutes while other players scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home team concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and attacked the match right from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects throughout the match, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was truly satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to last year's tied multiple match series on rival soil.

Farrell's team will require to reach a higher standard to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.