Mack Hansen delivers stellar display as Irish squad respond to Farrell's demand

Following last week's underwhelming performance against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish team to step up their game.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that represented the team's best performance this year.

In his debut test match start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with injuries honestly," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this feels like family.

"Any time I get to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that opportunity again.

"My entire focus this period was to go out and do what I can do."

Manager declared: 'Good players require no excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with several teammates injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the international team.

Having returned last month, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not empty words as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for future games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to play well in those different colored shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good players don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to get across his detail and thus that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also received praise from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," commented the ex- national manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the best opposition performer on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was putting the possession back on them to gain field position.

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

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

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and throw-in operated effectively and different teammate did not look out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was the team framing the match with two impressive spells.

The player's first couple of tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while other teammates registered in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the Irish side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the match straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"How we managed numerous aspects during the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test series on opposition territory.

Farrell's team will need to attain a higher level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.