🔗 Share this article

After their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Ireland team to step up their game.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had faded late against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's best display of the season.

Making his debut test match start at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've had a fairly difficult period with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

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

"Any time I get to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not receive that privilege again.

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent players don't need excuses'

After 28 caps on the flank, the player was given the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

In his case, it was essentially a case of picking up 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 returned last month, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

The coach had indicated that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome selection dilemma for future games.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those two colored boots!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to wear mismatched footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the game, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted straight back in and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

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

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the front," said the ex- international manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best Australian player on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what enables Hansen a good option at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that frequently.

"His high ball work was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the right thing and that was placing the possession again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and another player did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was the team framing the game with two impressive spells.

Hansen's first couple of tries occurred in the opening 11 moments while additional players registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the game straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed various elements during the match, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to reach another level to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the right path after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.