Mack Hansen produces brilliant performance as Ireland answer to Farrell's challenge

Following their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Ireland team to improve their game.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, against Australia, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's best performance this year.

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a three tries, competed brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with injuries really," the athlete commented.

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

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

"My whole focus this week was to take the field and perform what I could do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent players don't need justifications'

Following 28 appearances on the wing, the player was given the number 15 role for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury ended his aspiration of making the international squad.

Having returned recently, he developed a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not empty words as the former club player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for future games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those different colored boots!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to wear mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the rival coach, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the best opposition performer on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a strong option at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was placing the ball back 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 possessions back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two strong spells.

The player's initial two tries came in the first eleven moments while other teammates registered in the final stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and approached the match right from the beginning," said the coach.

"How we handled various aspects during the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what could be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test series on rival soil.

Farrell's team will require to attain a higher level to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.