Hansen produces brilliant display as Ireland respond to coach's challenge

Following last week's underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish team to improve their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

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

Nevertheless, against Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's finest display of the season.

In his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

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

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

"Whenever I have to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in superb form before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the international team.

After returned recently, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a welcome selection dilemma for future matches.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You need to play excellently in those two colored boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched boots.

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

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's got a great approach to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's efforts also received praise from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "standout opposition player" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the front," said the ex- international coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition performer on the field. He's has a great ability and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong fit at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the right thing and that was putting the ball back on them to gain territory.

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was getting the balls returned, and additional players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out operated 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 Ireland framing the game with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's first two scores occurred in the opening 11 moments while other players registered in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a high.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"How we handled numerous aspects during the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will require to attain a higher level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their fall campaign.