Hansen delivers stellar display as Ireland answer to coach's demand

Following their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to improve their game.

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a 46-19 triumph that represented the team's finest display this year.

In his first test match start at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, competed excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

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

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this feels like family.

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you may not get that privilege again.

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

Coach declared: 'Good athletes don't need justifications'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple teammates unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a matter of picking up where he finished during the summer.

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

Having returned last month, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was particularly motivated and these proved not empty statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for future games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned commendation from the rival manager, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best Australian performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was placing the ball back on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions back, and additional players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and throw-in operated effectively and different teammate did not look out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the game with two impressive spells.

The player's first two scores occurred in the opening 11 minutes while additional teammates scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

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

"The way we handled numerous elements throughout the match, especially the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what might be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn multiple match series on rival soil.

Farrell's side will need to attain another level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.