🔗 Share this article

After their previous underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Irish squad to improve their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and required considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's finest performance this year.

In his debut test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for high balls and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty challenging run with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

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

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not get that opportunity again.

"My entire focus this period was to go out and do what I can do."

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

After 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back position for the first time with multiple players unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

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

After returned last month, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

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

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to wear different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also received commendation from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the former national manager.

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

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"His high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the correct approach and that was placing the possession back on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

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

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the match with two impressive spells.

The player's first two scores occurred in the opening 11 moments while other teammates registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the game right from the word go," said Farrell.

"How we handled various aspects throughout the match, especially them responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on opposition territory.

Farrell's team will need to attain another standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.