Hansen produces brilliant display as Irish squad respond to Farrell's demand

After last week's underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to improve their performance.

The team listened right away.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that represented the team's best performance this year.

Making his debut international start at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging run with injuries really," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like home.

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

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

Coach stated: 'Excellent players don't need justifications'

After 28 appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with multiple players unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before physical issues ended his dream of joining the Test squad.

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

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for future games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to play well in those different colored boots!'," commented Farrell, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that personally regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the game, 'Good players require no justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's has a great attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," said the ex- national coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best opposition performer on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong option at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that more often.

"The player's aerial work was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was placing the possession back on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was securing the possessions returned, and other players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the match with two impressive periods.

The player's first two tries occurred in the first eleven moments while additional teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the home team concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and attacked the game right from the word go," said the coach.

"How we handled various elements throughout the game, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's tied two-Test series on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to reach a higher level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.