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After their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish team to step up their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

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

However, facing the Wallabies, they began strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked Ireland's best performance this year.

In his first test match start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his birth.

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

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

"Whenever 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 take the field and do what I could do."

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

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was given the full-back position for the first time with several players injured.

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

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

After returned recently, he developed a lower body injury that ruled him out for earlier matches.

The coach had indicated that the player was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for future games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You need to play well in those two colored boots!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack 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 excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's has a great attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he slotted right back in and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the fore," commented the ex- national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the best opposition player on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

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

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and another player did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the forwards.

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

The player's first two scores came in the opening 11 minutes while additional players registered in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a high.

"I thought we really performed freely and approached the match right from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we managed various elements during the game, especially them responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be viewed as an informal decider to last year's tied multiple match series on rival soil.

The coach's side will need to attain a higher level to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.