Mack Hansen delivers stellar display as Irish squad respond to coach's challenge

After their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to improve their performance.

Ireland listened immediately.

Ireland had faded late against New Zealand and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's best performance of the season.

Making his debut international appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a three tries, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty challenging period with injuries honestly," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being raised 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 honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not get that privilege again.

"My whole focus this period was to take the field and perform what I could do."

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

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with several teammates unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a case of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

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

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

The coach had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the former provincial player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for future matches.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You better play excellently in those two colored shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to sport different boots.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent 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, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the rival coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition player" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his experience showed to the front," commented the former international manager.

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

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong fit at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

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

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

Outside the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and another player did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the forwards.

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

Hansen's initial two scores came in the opening 11 moments while other players scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home side finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the match straight from the word go," said the coach.

"How we managed various elements throughout the match, especially them responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied two-Test series on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to attain a higher level to defeat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.