🔗 Share this article

After last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland squad to improve their game.

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's best performance this year.

In his debut international appearance at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a fairly difficult run with fitness issues really," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this group and this seems like family.

"Whenever I get to play for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you might not receive that privilege again.

"My entire focus this period was to take the field and perform what I could do."

Coach stated: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

Following 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was given the full-back position for the initial time with several players injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before physical issues disrupted his dream of joining the international team.

After returned last month, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was particularly motivated and these proved not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive selection dilemma for future matches.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You need to play well in those two coloured boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport different boots.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but it seems Mack just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best opposition player on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong option at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is something that he does from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's better in place for that more often.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right thing and that was putting the possession back on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions returned, and other teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was Ireland bookending the game with two strong spells.

Hansen's first couple of tries occurred in the opening 11 minutes while other teammates scored in the final stages after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home side finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and attacked the game right from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we handled numerous elements throughout the match, especially them responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

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

The coach's side will need to attain a higher standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important step in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their autumn schedule.