🔗 Share this article

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

Ireland responded right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's best performance this year.

In his debut international start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a fairly difficult period with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's considerable talk about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like family.

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

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

Manager stated: 'Good athletes don't need justifications'

Following 28 caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a case of picking up where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury ended his dream of making the Test squad.

Having returned last month, he developed a lower body problem that ruled him out for earlier matches.

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

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those different coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just made that personally anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good players require no justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the former national manager.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the standout Australian performer on the field. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong fit at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"His aerial work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we persisted of executing the right approach and that was putting the possession again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and different player did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for the manager was the team framing the match with two strong spells.

The player's initial couple of tries came in the opening 11 minutes while other teammates registered in the closing exchanges after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the match right from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we managed numerous aspects throughout the match, especially them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across most of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an informal conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to reach a higher level to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.