🔗 Share this article

Following their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to step up their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's best performance this year.

In his debut test match appearance at full-back, the player registered a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly difficult period with injuries really," Hansen commented.

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

"Whenever I get to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you may not receive that opportunity again.

"My entire approach this week was to take the field and perform what I could do."

Manager stated: 'Good players don't need justifications'

After 28 caps on the wing, the player was given the full-back position for the first time with several teammates injured.

In his case, it was simply a matter of picking up where he finished during the summer.

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury disrupted his dream of making the international team.

Having come back last month, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive selection headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those different coloured boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to wear different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just made that himself anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good players require no justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's got a great approach to understand his detail and so that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

The player's performance also earned commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," said the ex- national coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best Australian performer on the field. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of doing the right approach and that was putting the possession again on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was getting the balls back, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated effectively and different teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps most pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the game with two impressive periods.

Hansen's initial two scores occurred in the first eleven moments while other players registered in the closing stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and approached the game straight from the word go," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous elements throughout the match, especially the opposition responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with most of our strategy in that later period was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test series on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to reach another standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.