🔗 Share this article

After their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to improve their game.

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and required considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they began powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's finest performance of the season.

Making his debut international start at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

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

"Any time I get to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not get that privilege again.

"My whole focus this week was to go out and perform what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

After 28 caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with multiple teammates unavailable.

For him, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of making the international squad.

Having come back recently, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for future games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform excellently in those two colored shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Hansen just made that personally anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's has a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the evening.

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the best opposition player on the field. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what enables Hansen a good fit at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"His high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the right thing and that was putting the possession back on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and another player did not appear out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was the team framing the game with two impressive periods.

Hansen's first two scores occurred in the opening eleven minutes while other players scored in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a high.

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

"How we managed numerous aspects throughout the game, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will require to reach another standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important step in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall campaign.