🔗 Share this article

Following their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

Ireland had struggled late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive triumph that represented the team's best performance this year.

In his first test match start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, competed excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

"Whenever I have to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you may not receive that opportunity again.

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent players don't need excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

For him, it was essentially a case of picking up where he finished during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his dream of making the Test team.

After returned last month, he developed a lower body injury that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome team headache for future games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," commented Farrell, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's got a great approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's performance also earned commendation from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his experience showed to the fore," commented the ex- international manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout Australian performer on the field. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what enables Hansen a good fit at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"The player's aerial work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the right thing and that was placing the ball again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the balls returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned smoothly and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the game with two impressive spells.

The player's first couple of tries came in the opening eleven moments while other players scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the beginning," stated the coach.

"How we managed numerous elements during the game, especially them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on rival territory.

The coach's team will need to reach a higher standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn schedule.