Hansen produces brilliant performance as Ireland respond to coach's demand

Following their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to improve their performance.

Ireland listened immediately.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's best display of the season.

Making his first international start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty challenging period with injuries honestly," the athlete stated.

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

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

"My entire approach this week was to take the field and perform what I could do."

Coach stated: 'Good players require no justifications'

Following 28 caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with several players unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before injury disrupted his dream of joining the Test team.

After come back recently, he developed a foot problem that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for future matches.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched boots.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to understand his detail and so that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

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

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the best Australian player on the pitch. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables the player a strong fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

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

"The reason that was the right thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in operated effectively and different teammate did not look out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was the team bookending the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's first couple of tries came in the first 11 moments while other players scored in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home side finished on a positive note.

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

"How we managed numerous aspects throughout the game, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that second half was really pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn two-Test contest on opposition territory.

The coach's side will require to attain another standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.