🔗 Share this article

Following their previous disappointing showing against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland team to improve their performance.

The team listened right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and taken most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 triumph that represented Ireland's finest display of the season.

In his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this seems like family.

"Whenever I get to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not get that opportunity again.

"My entire approach this period was to take the field and perform what I could do."

Coach stated: 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications'

Following twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with multiple players 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 condition before injury disrupted his aspiration of making the Test team.

Having come back last month, he suffered a lower body injury that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform excellently in those two colored boots!'," commented the coach, referring to the player's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

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

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a great attitude to understand his preparation and so that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

The player's performance also earned commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," said the former national manager.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables the player a strong fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the middle of the field is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

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

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out operated effectively and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was the team framing the match with multiple impressive periods.

The player's initial couple of tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while other teammates scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous elements throughout the match, particularly them coming back just before the break and regathering 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 later period was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's tied multiple match contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will need to attain a higher standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct path after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.