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

After their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to improve their performance.

The team responded right away.

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

However, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's finest performance this year.

In his debut international appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a fairly difficult run with injuries really," the athlete commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's much discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not receive that privilege again.

"My whole approach this period was to take the field and perform what I can do."

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes require no justifications'

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

In his case, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury ended his dream of joining the international squad.

Having come back last month, he developed a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive team headache for upcoming matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those different colored boots!'," commented Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just made that himself regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," said the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best opposition player on the pitch. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong option at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the middle of the field is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"His high ball play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the right thing and that was putting the possession again on them to gain territory.

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

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the forwards.

But perhaps most pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the game with two impressive spells.

Hansen's initial couple of scores occurred in the opening 11 moments while additional players registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a high.

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

"How we handled various elements throughout the game, especially them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on rival soil.

The coach's team will need to attain a higher standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.