🔗 Share this article

After their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Irish team to step up their performance.

The team listened immediately.

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

However, facing Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that represented the team's finest performance of the season.

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, competed excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly challenging period with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's considerable talk about me not necessarily 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 good showing you may not receive that privilege again.

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

Coach stated: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the flank, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the first time with multiple players injured.

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

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

After returned recently, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for future matches.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You better play excellently in those different colored shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to wear mismatched boots.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains well, he's got a great attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the rival manager, who stated he was the "standout opposition player" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the former international coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes the player a strong fit at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in position for that frequently.

"His aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was placing the possession back on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was securing the balls returned, and other teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and line-out operated smoothly and different player did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was the team framing the match with two impressive periods.

The player's initial couple of scores occurred in the opening eleven minutes while additional players registered in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish side concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the match straight from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we handled various elements during the game, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what could be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's tied multiple match contest on rival soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach another level to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn schedule.