Hansen delivers brilliant performance as Ireland answer to coach's challenge

Following last week's disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to step up their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 triumph that marked the team's finest display this year.

In his first test match start at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult period with fitness issues honestly," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's much discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this feels like family.

"Any time I get to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not receive that opportunity again.

"My whole approach this period was to go out and perform what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Good players require no excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with multiple players injured.

For him, it was simply a case of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before injury ended his aspiration of joining the Test squad.

After come back recently, he developed a foot problem that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome selection dilemma for upcoming matches.

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

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Hansen just made that himself anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's got a great approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the rival coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the fore," said the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout Australian performer on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables the player a good option at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"His high ball work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the correct thing and that was putting the possession again on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated effectively and different teammate did not look out of place in his first appearance in the front row.

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two strong periods.

The player's initial couple of scores came in the first eleven moments while other teammates scored in the closing stages after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and attacked the match straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we handled various elements during the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

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

Farrell's side will require to attain another level to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.