Mack Hansen delivers stellar display as Irish squad answer to coach's demand

After last week's underwhelming performance against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish team to step up their performance.

Ireland listened immediately.

Ireland had faded late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, against Australia, they started strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's best performance of the season.

In his first international start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a fairly challenging run with injuries really," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

"Any time I have to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you may not get that privilege again.

"My entire approach this period was to take the field and perform what I can do."

Manager declared: 'Good players don't need justifications'

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

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

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury ended his aspiration of making the Test team.

Having returned recently, he developed a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially motivated and these proved not empty statements as the former club player gave his coach a positive selection dilemma for future matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those different coloured shoes!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's decision to wear different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need 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.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a great approach to get across his detail and thus that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

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

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the ex- international manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout Australian performer on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good option 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 more in place for that frequently.

"His aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the right thing and that was putting the ball again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and additional players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the match with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's initial two scores came in the first 11 moments while additional teammates scored in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home side finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and approached the match straight from the word go," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous elements during the game, especially the opposition responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on opposition soil.

The coach's side will need to attain a higher level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.