🔗 Share this article

After last week's underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to improve their game.

The team listened right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's best display this year.

In his debut international start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, competed brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly difficult run with fitness issues honestly," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's much discussion about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this seems like home.

"Any time I get to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you may not receive that opportunity again.

"My entire approach this week was to take the field and do what I could do."

Coach stated: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was given the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple players injured.

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

The experienced player had been in superb form before physical issues disrupted his dream of joining the international team.

Having returned recently, he developed a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

The coach had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these proved not empty words as the former club player gave his manager a positive selection headache for future matches.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that personally anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's got a great attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the fore," said the ex- international manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a great ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what enables Hansen a good option at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the middle 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, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the right thing and that was placing the ball back on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and other players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

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

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two impressive spells.

The player's first couple of tries came in the opening eleven moments while additional players scored in the closing exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and attacked the game straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects throughout the match, especially the opposition coming back 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 most of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition territory.

The coach's team will require to attain another standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall campaign.