🔗 Share this article

After their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Irish squad to improve their game.

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and required considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's finest display this year.

In his first international start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

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

"Whenever I have to play for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not get that privilege again.

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

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

Following 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the first time with several players unavailable.

For him, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury ended his dream of joining the Test team.

Having come back recently, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

The coach had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome team headache for future games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two coloured boots!'," said the coach, referring to the player's choice to sport different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

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

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's has a great approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

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

"In my view he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," said the ex- international coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the standout opposition performer on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a good fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"His aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the correct approach and that was placing the ball again on them to secure territory.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out operated smoothly and different teammate did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But possibly more pleasing for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with two impressive periods.

The player's initial two scores came in the opening eleven moments while additional teammates registered in the closing exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the home team concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the match right from the word go," said Farrell.

"How we handled various aspects throughout the match, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

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

The coach's team will require to attain a higher standard to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.