Mack Hansen delivers brilliant performance as Irish squad respond to coach's demand

Following their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to step up their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's finest performance this year.

Making his first international start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've had a fairly challenging period with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this feels like home.

"Any time I get to play for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

Following twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the first time with multiple teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a matter of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before physical issues ended his aspiration of making the Test team.

Having returned recently, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not empty statements as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for upcoming games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different coloured boots!'," said the coach, alluding to the player's choice to wear mismatched boots.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the front," commented the former international manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout Australian player on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes the player a good fit at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of executing the right approach and that was putting the ball again on them to gain territory.

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

Outside the star performer, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned smoothly and different player did not look out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the match with multiple impressive spells.

The player's initial couple of tries came in the first 11 minutes while additional teammates scored in the final stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home team concluded on a positive note.

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

"How we handled various aspects throughout the game, especially them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will need to attain a higher standard to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.