Mack Hansen delivers brilliant display as Ireland answer to Farrell's challenge

Following last week's disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to step up their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

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

However, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's finest display this year.

Making his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's much discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this seems like family.

"Any time I get to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not get that opportunity again.

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

Coach stated: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

Following 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with several teammates injured.

For him, it was simply 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 problem that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not empty statements as the former club player gave his coach a welcome selection dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different colored boots!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just made that personally regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares well, he's got a excellent approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's efforts also received praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge was evident to the front," commented the former international coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition performer on the field. He's has a great ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the field is something that he does from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's better in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was placing the possession again on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was getting the possessions returned, and other players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for Farrell was the team bookending the game with multiple strong periods.

Hansen's initial couple of scores came in the first eleven minutes while additional players registered in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the home side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and attacked the game straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"How we managed various aspects throughout the game, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn multiple match contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's team will require to reach a higher level to beat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a important step in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.