🔗 Share this article

Following their previous disappointing performance against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland squad to improve their performance.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that represented Ireland's best display this year.

In his debut international appearance at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult period with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's much discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like family.

"Whenever I get to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not get that privilege again.

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before physical issues ended his aspiration of joining the Test squad.

Having returned recently, he developed a lower body problem that ruled him out for earlier matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the former club player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to perform well in those different colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's choice to wear different boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

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

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

Hansen's performance also received praise from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," said the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the best Australian player on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

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

"His high ball work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the right approach and that was placing the ball back on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and other teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

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

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and different teammate did not look out of place in his first appearance in the front row.

But possibly more pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the game with multiple impressive spells.

The player's initial two tries occurred in the opening eleven moments while additional players scored in the closing stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we managed various elements throughout the match, particularly them coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across most of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an informal decider to last year's drawn multiple match contest on opposition territory.

The coach's team will require to attain a higher standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn schedule.