🔗 Share this article

Following last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland team to step up their game.

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 triumph that marked Ireland's finest performance of the season.

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

"You know, I've experienced a fairly difficult period with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's much talk about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like home.

"Whenever I get to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

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

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

After 28 caps on the wing, the player was given the number 15 position for the initial time with several teammates unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the international squad.

After returned last month, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these proved not empty statements as the former club player gave his manager a positive team dilemma for future games.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You need to play well in those different colored boots!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's choice to sport mismatched footwear.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's got a excellent attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the rival manager, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his experience showed to the front," said the ex- national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the standout Australian player on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a good fit at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in position for that frequently.

"His high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the correct thing and that was putting the ball back on them to secure territory.

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

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

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

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was the team framing the game with multiple impressive periods.

The player's first two tries came in the opening 11 moments while additional teammates registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the game right from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects throughout the match, particularly them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across most of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn multiple match series on rival territory.

Farrell's side will require to attain another level to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.