🔗 Share this article

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

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's best performance this year.

In his debut test match start at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty challenging period with injuries really," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this seems like home.

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

"My entire focus this period was to go out and do what I could do."

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

After 28 appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with several teammates injured.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test team.

After come back last month, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive selection headache for future games.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You need to perform well in those two colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to wear different boots.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but it seems Mack just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's got a great attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

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

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the ex- national coach.

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

Pressed about what enables the player a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was placing the ball back on them to gain field position.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and throw-in functioned effectively and different player did not appear out of place in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was the team framing the match with two strong periods.

The player's initial two scores occurred in the first 11 minutes while other players registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the game straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we handled various aspects throughout the match, particularly them responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was truly satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to reach another level to defeat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an disappointing start to their autumn campaign.