Mack Hansen produces brilliant performance as Irish squad answer to coach's challenge

Following their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

The team responded immediately.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they began strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's finest performance this year.

In his first test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging run with fitness issues really," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this seems like family.

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

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

Coach declared: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with multiple players injured.

For him, it was simply a matter of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

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

After returned recently, he developed a lower body problem that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the former club player gave his coach a positive selection headache for future matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to wear different boots.

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

"I said to him before the game, 'Good players require no excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares 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 able to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also earned praise from the rival coach, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," said the former international coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best Australian player on the pitch. He's has a great ability and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong fit at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"His high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of executing the right thing and that was placing the possession again on them to gain field position.

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

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated effectively and another player did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's first two tries came in the opening 11 moments while additional teammates registered in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the game straight from the word go," said the coach.

"The way we managed numerous elements throughout the match, particularly them responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being across most of our game in that second half was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn multiple match series on rival soil.

The coach's team will require to reach a higher level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct path after an disappointing start to their autumn campaign.