Mack Hansen delivers brilliant display as Irish squad answer to coach's demand

Following their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish squad to improve their game.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

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

Making his debut test match start at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty challenging run with injuries really," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like family.

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you might not receive that privilege again.

"My entire focus this period was to take the field and do what I can do."

Manager declared: 'Good players don't need justifications'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

For him, it was essentially a case of continuing where he finished during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb condition before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the international squad.

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

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not hollow statements as the former club player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for future games.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You need to play excellently in those two colored boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to wear mismatched boots.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just made that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's got a great attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "standout opposition player" on the night.

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

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best Australian performer on the field. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's better in position for that frequently.

"His aerial work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we persisted of executing the correct approach and that was putting the possession back on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

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

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

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was the team bookending the match with two impressive periods.

The player's initial two tries occurred in the opening eleven minutes while additional teammates registered in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the game straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed various elements during the game, particularly them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across most of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on rival soil.

Farrell's team will need to attain another standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.