🔗 Share this article

After their previous disappointing showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to improve their performance.

Ireland listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, against Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 triumph that marked the team's finest display of the season.

In his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly difficult period with injuries really," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this seems like family.

"Any time I have to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

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

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with several teammates injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before physical issues ended his aspiration of making the international team.

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

The coach had suggested that the player was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the former club player gave his coach a welcome selection dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different coloured shoes!'," said the coach, referring to the player's choice to sport mismatched footwear.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but it seems 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 athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, 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 capable to perform naturally due to that."

The player's performance also earned commendation from the rival coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the front," commented the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the best Australian player on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a strong option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"His high ball play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was putting the ball again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was getting the possessions back, and other players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was Ireland framing the match with two impressive spells.

Hansen's initial couple of scores came in the opening eleven minutes while other players registered in the final stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish team finished on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the match straight from the word go," said the coach.

"The way we managed numerous aspects during the game, especially them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with most of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an informal decider to last year's drawn two-Test contest on opposition soil.

The coach's side will need to reach another standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.