Mack Hansen produces brilliant display as Irish squad respond to coach's demand

Following last week's disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to improve their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and taken most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked Ireland's finest display of the season.

Making his first international start at full-back, the player scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging run with fitness issues honestly," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable talk about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach stated: 'Good players don't need excuses'

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the first time with multiple players unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a matter of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury disrupted his dream of joining the international squad.

Having come back last month, he suffered a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow words as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome team headache for upcoming matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those two colored shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear different boots.

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

"I said to him before the game, 'Good players don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's got a great approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the former international coach.

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

Pressed about what makes the player a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that more often.

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

"Why that was the right strategy to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and another teammate did not appear out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly most satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the match with multiple impressive spells.

The player's initial couple of scores came in the first 11 moments while additional players registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish team finished on a positive note.

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

"The way we managed various elements throughout the game, especially them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's tied two-Test contest on opposition territory.

Farrell's side will need to reach another standard to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.