🔗 Share this article

After last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish squad to improve their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, against the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that marked Ireland's finest display this year.

In his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've had a fairly challenging run with injuries honestly," Hansen stated.

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

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you may not get that privilege again.

"My whole approach this week was to go out and perform what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Good athletes don't need excuses'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, the player was given the full-back position for the initial time with multiple teammates unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a case of picking up where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his dream of making the international squad.

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

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly determined and these proved not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for future matches.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two colored boots!'," commented the coach, referring to the player's decision to sport different footwear.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his preparation and so that's why he fitted straight back in and he was able to be himself due to that."

Hansen's efforts also earned commendation from the rival coach, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the evening.

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

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the standout opposition player on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a strong fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he does from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"His high ball play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the right thing and that was placing the possession again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was securing the balls back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and another player did not look out of place in his first appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was the team bookending the game with two strong periods.

The player's first couple of tries occurred in the first 11 moments while other players scored in the final stages after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the game straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"How we handled various elements during the game, especially the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test series on opposition territory.

Farrell's side will require to reach another level to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.