🔗 Share this article

Following last week's underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach told his Irish team to improve their performance.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

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

In his debut test match start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, competed brilliantly for high balls and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty difficult period with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this seems like home.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Coach stated: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

Following twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the first time with multiple teammates injured.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in superb form before physical issues disrupted his dream of joining the international team.

Having returned recently, he developed a foot problem that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

The coach had suggested that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty words as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive selection headache for upcoming games.

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

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Good players don't need 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, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the rival coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the former national coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what enables the player a good option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"His aerial 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 gain territory.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and different player did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was the team bookending the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's first couple of scores occurred in the opening 11 moments while additional teammates scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a high.

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

"The way we managed various elements throughout the match, especially them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an unofficial decider to last year's tied multiple match series on rival territory.

The coach's side will need to attain a higher standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn schedule.