🔗 Share this article

Following their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland squad to step up their game.

Ireland responded right away.

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

However, against Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's finest performance of the season.

In his first international start at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've had a pretty challenging run with injuries honestly," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like home.

"Whenever I have to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you may not get that opportunity again.

"My whole focus this period was to take the field and perform what I can do."

Coach stated: 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses'

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

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

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test team.

After returned recently, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was particularly motivated and these proved not empty words as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome team headache for future matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those different coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's choice to sport mismatched footwear.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

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

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the rival coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," said the ex- national coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout Australian performer on the field. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a good fit at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he does from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"His high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the right approach and that was placing the possession back on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and different player did not look out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was the team framing the game with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's initial two tries came in the first eleven moments while additional teammates scored in the final stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the home side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and approached the match straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects during the game, especially them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with most of our strategy in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test series on rival territory.

Farrell's side will need to attain a higher level to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall campaign.