🔗 Share this article

After last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Ireland team to step up their performance.

The team listened immediately.

Ireland had faded late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's best performance of the season.

Making his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've had a pretty challenging run with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

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

"Any time I get to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you might not get that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Good athletes don't need justifications'

Following twenty-eight caps on the wing, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with several players unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent form before physical issues ended his dream of making the international squad.

After come back last month, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not hollow statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive team headache for future games.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those two colored boots!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched boots.

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

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the standout Australian player on the pitch. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was placing the ball back on them to gain territory.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and different teammate did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the game with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's initial two scores occurred in the first 11 minutes while additional players registered in the final stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we managed numerous aspects throughout the match, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal decider to the previous season's tied two-Test series on rival soil.

Farrell's side will require to reach a higher level to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.