Mack Hansen delivers brilliant performance as Ireland respond to coach's demand

Following last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to improve their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

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

In his debut international start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty challenging period with injuries really," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

"Any time I get 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 entire approach this week was to go out and do what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications'

Following 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury ended his dream of making the international team.

Having come back last month, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

The coach had indicated that the player was especially motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for future matches.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You better play well in those different coloured shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's has a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also received praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the front," commented the ex- national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the standout Australian player on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a good fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball work was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the correct 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 likes of Mackie who was getting the possessions returned, and additional players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

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

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was the team framing the match with multiple strong periods.

Hansen's initial couple of scores occurred in the first eleven minutes while additional players scored in the final exchanges after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a positive note.

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

"The way we handled various elements throughout the match, especially them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that second half was truly satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's tied multiple match series on rival territory.

The coach's team will require to reach another standard to beat the consecutive title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.