🔗 Share this article

After last week's underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to step up their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, against Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that marked the team's best display of the season.

In his first international appearance at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty difficult period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen 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 adore this team and this seems like home.

"Any time I have to play for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not receive that privilege again.

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

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

Following 28 appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the first time with multiple players injured.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before physical issues disrupted his dream of joining the Test team.

After returned recently, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not empty words as the former club player gave his coach a positive selection dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You better play well in those different coloured shoes!'," said the coach, referring to the player's decision to wear mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great approach to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

The player's performance also earned commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

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

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a great ability and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a good fit at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

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

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside the star performer, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and different teammate did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the match with multiple impressive periods.

Hansen's first couple of tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while other players scored in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home team finished on a positive note.

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

"The way we handled various elements during the match, especially them coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across most of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what could be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test series on opposition soil.

The coach's team will require to attain another standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their autumn schedule.