Hansen produces stellar performance as Irish squad respond to coach's demand

Following last week's underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Irish team to step up their game.

The team responded immediately.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's best performance of the season.

Making his debut international start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's much discussion about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this seems like home.

"Whenever I have to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you might not get that opportunity again.

"My entire approach this period was to go out and do what I can do."

Coach declared: 'Good players require no justifications'

After twenty-eight appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with several players injured.

In his case, it was essentially a case of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before physical issues ended his dream of joining the international team.

After returned last month, he developed a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive team headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better play well in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's got a great attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he fitted straight back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also earned praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the night.

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

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the standout Australian player on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what enables the player a strong fit at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"His high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the right thing and that was placing the possession again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the balls returned, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out operated effectively and different player did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with multiple impressive periods.

Hansen's first two scores came in the opening 11 moments while other players registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the match straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous aspects throughout the game, especially them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was truly satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an informal decider to last year's drawn multiple match contest on opposition soil.

The coach's side will need to attain another standard to beat the consecutive title holders, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a important step in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.