🔗 Share this article

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

Ireland responded right away.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented the team's finest display this year.

Making his debut test match start at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult run with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this feels like home.

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

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses'

Following twenty-eight caps on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple teammates unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the summer.

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

After come back recently, he developed a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a welcome team headache for upcoming matches.

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

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

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian player" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his experience was evident to the front," commented the former national coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the best opposition player on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

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

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

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

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

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and another player did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was Ireland framing the match with two strong periods.

The player's first two tries came in the opening eleven minutes while additional players scored in the final exchanges after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish team finished on a high.

"I thought we really performed freely and approached the game straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous elements during the match, particularly them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across most of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's tied two-Test contest on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to reach another standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a important step in the right path after an uninspiring start to their autumn schedule.