🔗 Share this article

Following last week's disappointing performance against Japan, the head coach challenged his Ireland squad to improve their game.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, against Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented the team's finest performance this year.

Making his first international appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty challenging run with injuries really," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's much discussion about me not necessarily 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 may not get that privilege again.

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

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

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

In his case, it was essentially a case of continuing 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 team.

Having returned recently, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a welcome selection headache for future games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better perform well in those two coloured boots!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's choice to wear different boots.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains well, he's got a great approach to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the rival coach, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his experience showed to the fore," commented the ex- international coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the best Australian player on the field. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong fit at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that more often.

"His high ball play was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the right approach and that was placing the possession again on them to gain territory.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned effectively and another player did not appear out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the match with multiple strong spells.

The player's first couple of scores occurred in the opening eleven moments while other players scored in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the match straight from the word go," stated Farrell.

"The way we handled various elements during the match, especially them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn multiple match contest on opposition territory.

The coach's side will need to reach a higher standard to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their autumn schedule.