🔗 Share this article

After their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Ireland team to step up their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's best performance of the season.

Making his debut international start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, competed excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a fairly difficult run with injuries honestly," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this seems like home.

"Whenever I have to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not get that privilege again.

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the wing, the player was given the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

For him, it was simply a matter of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury ended his dream of joining the Test squad.

Having returned last month, he developed a foot problem that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty statements as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for future games.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those two coloured boots!'," said the coach, referring to the player's choice to wear different boots.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good players don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that type of player, he trains well, he's has a excellent approach to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's performance also earned commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked 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, Mack was probably the best opposition player on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables the player a good fit at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"The player's aerial play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the right approach and that was placing the possession back on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the possessions back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out operated effectively and another teammate did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps most pleasing for the manager was the team framing the match with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's initial two tries occurred in the opening 11 moments while other players scored in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the game straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we handled numerous aspects during the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across most of our strategy in that second half was truly satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test contest on rival territory.

The coach's side will need to reach a higher level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.