🔗 Share this article

Following last week's underwhelming performance against Japan, the head coach told his Irish team to improve their game.

Ireland responded right away.

Ireland had faded late against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing Australia, they began strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's best display this year.

Making his first international start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, competed brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult run with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this seems like home.

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

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

Coach stated: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

After 28 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 left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury ended his aspiration of joining the Test team.

Having returned recently, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

The coach had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these proved not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive selection headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two coloured boots!'," said the coach, referring to the player's decision to wear mismatched boots.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's got a great approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

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

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

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

When asked about what makes the player a good fit at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that frequently.

"His high ball play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct thing and that was placing the ball back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for the manager was Ireland bookending the match with multiple strong periods.

Hansen's initial two scores occurred in the first 11 minutes while additional teammates registered in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the word go," said the coach.

"How we managed numerous elements throughout the game, particularly them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what might be viewed as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn multiple match contest on opposition territory.

The coach's team will require to attain another standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall campaign.