Hansen produces stellar display as Irish squad answer to Farrell's challenge

After last week's underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Ireland team to step up their performance.

The team listened immediately.

Ireland had struggled late against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented Ireland's finest display of the season.

In his first test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for high balls and performed exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty difficult run with injuries honestly," Hansen stated.

"I missed 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 love this team and this feels like family.

"Whenever I get to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not get that privilege again.

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

Coach declared: 'Good players don't need justifications'

After 28 caps on the wing, the player was given the number 15 position for the first time with multiple players injured.

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

The experienced player had been in superb condition before injury ended his aspiration of joining the Test team.

Having returned last month, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive team dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to the player's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but it seems Hansen just made that personally regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players require no excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the ex- international coach.

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

Pressed about what makes Hansen a strong fit at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"His high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was placing the possession again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was the team framing the game with multiple impressive spells.

The player's initial couple of scores came in the first eleven moments while additional teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the Irish side finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the game right from the word go," said Farrell.

"How we handled numerous aspects throughout the match, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

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

Farrell's team will require to reach a higher standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.