🔗 Share this article

After their previous underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to step up their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, against Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's finest performance this year.

In his first test match start at full-back, the player registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

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

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

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

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

Coach declared: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

After 28 appearances on the flank, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with several teammates injured.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury ended his dream of joining the international team.

Having come back last month, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the former club player gave his coach a welcome selection dilemma for future matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform excellently in those two colored boots!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's choice to wear mismatched boots.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but it seems Mack just made that personally regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's got a great approach to get across his detail and so that's why he fitted straight back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

The player's performance also received praise from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a strong fit at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was placing the ball again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and another player did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps most pleasing for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with multiple strong periods.

Hansen's initial two scores occurred in the opening 11 moments while other teammates registered in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and approached the match right from the word go," said the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects during the match, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal conclusion to last year's drawn multiple match contest on rival soil.

The coach's side will need to attain another level to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the correct path after an disappointing start to their fall campaign.