🔗 Share this article

Following their previous disappointing showing against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

Ireland listened immediately.

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

However, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's finest display of the season.

Making his debut international start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty difficult run with injuries really," Hansen stated.

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

"Whenever I have to play for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not get that privilege again.

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

Coach declared: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was given the full-back position for the first time with several teammates injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before injury ended his aspiration of joining the international team.

Having returned recently, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

The coach had suggested that the player was especially motivated and these proved not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive team headache for upcoming matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those different colored shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to wear different boots.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that personally regardless. 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 perform and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's has a excellent approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

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

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

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong fit at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's better in position for that frequently.

"His high ball work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was placing the ball again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out operated smoothly 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 strong spells.

The player's initial couple of scores came in the opening 11 minutes while additional players registered in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a high.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and attacked the match straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we handled various elements throughout the game, especially them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was really pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an informal decider to last year's drawn multiple match contest on rival territory.

The coach's team will need to attain a higher standard to beat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.