Mack Hansen delivers brilliant performance as Ireland answer to coach's demand
Following their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish team to step up their performance.
Ireland responded immediately.
The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.
However, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's finest display this year.
Making his first test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for high balls and performed outstandingly against the nation of his birth.
"Look, I've had a fairly challenging run with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.
"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this feels like home.
"Whenever I get to play for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not get that opportunity again.
"My entire focus this week was to take the field and perform what I can do."
Manager stated: 'Good athletes don't need excuses'
After 28 appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with multiple players injured.
For him, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.
The experienced player had been in excellent form before physical issues ended his dream of joining the international squad.
After come back last month, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.
Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not empty words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive selection headache for future games.
"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those two coloured shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched footwear.
"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just did that personally anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.
"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'
"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's got a excellent approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he slotted right back in and he was able to be himself because of that."
Hansen's efforts also received praise from the rival manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.
"In my view he was super, his experience was evident to the front," commented the ex- national manager.
"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the best opposition player on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong competitor."
When asked about what makes Hansen a good option at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.
"His aerial play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct thing and that was putting the possession again on them to gain territory.
"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."
Beyond Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.
Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and another player did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.
But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was Ireland framing the game with multiple strong periods.
Hansen's first couple of scores came in the first 11 minutes while other teammates registered in the closing stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a positive note.
"In my opinion we really performed freely and approached the game straight from the beginning," said Farrell.
"How we handled numerous aspects throughout the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with most of our strategy in that second half was truly pleasing."
The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on rival soil.
Farrell's team will require to attain a higher level to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a important step in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.