🔗 Share this article

After their previous underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to improve their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked Ireland's finest performance this year.

Making his debut test match start at full-back, the player registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've had a fairly difficult run with injuries really," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this seems like home.

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

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

After 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the initial time with several players injured.

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

The experienced player had been in superb condition before injury ended his dream of joining the Test squad.

After come back recently, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

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 manager a welcome team headache for upcoming games.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those different colored boots!'," said the coach, alluding to the player's decision to sport different footwear.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but apparently Hansen just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's got a great approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the ex- international manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the best Australian player on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the correct thing and that was putting the possession back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's initial couple of scores came in the opening 11 moments while other players scored in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a high.

"I thought we really performed freely and attacked the game right from the word go," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous aspects throughout the match, particularly them responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what could be considered as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will require to attain another standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important step in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.