Mack Hansen says Ireland ‘feels like home’ after victory over native Australia

Canberra-born Hansen, who started at full-back for the first time at Test level, celebrated his return from a foot injury by crossing three times in the opening 28 minutes to delight a capacity Dublin crowd.

Second-half scores from Caelan Doris, Ryan Baird and Robbie Henshaw ensured head coach Andy Farrell again came out on top against former Ireland boss Joe Schmidt.

Ireland’s previous biggest margin of victory against Australia was 15 points – a 27-12 win in 1979 in Brisbane and a 21-6 success in 2006 in Dublin.

Hansen, whose mother hails from Cork, initially sustained the injury during this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour, denying him a chance to take on the Wallabies in his homeland.

“Look, I’ve had a pretty bang average run with injuries really,” the Connacht back, who also caught the eye by wearing one black boot and one white, told TNT Sports.

“I missed being in this team, I know there’s a lot of chat about me not necessarily being born here and I didn’t grow up here, but I love this team and this feels like home.

“Any time I get to play for Ireland it’s a privilege, if you don’t put in a performance you might not get that privilege again.

“My whole thing this week was to go out and do what I can do.”

Australia trailed by just five points at the break following converted tries from Len Ikitau and Fraser McReight and claimed a late consolation through Billy Pollard.

But Ireland were deserved winners ahead of completing their autumn campaign at home to world champions South Africa next weekend.

Fly-half Sam Prendergast kicked seven points, including a drop goal, for the dominant hosts, before his replacement Jack Crowley slotted a further nine.

Farrell led the Lions to a 2-1 series victory over Schmidt’s Wallabies in the summer following Ireland’s 22-19 victory over the same opponents last November.

Speaking of the returning Hansen, who won his previous 28 caps on the wing, Farrell said: “The first thoughts were, ‘he better play well in those two different coloured boots’ – he’s drawn attention to himself before he’s even started.

“I said to him before the game, ‘good players don’t need excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves – you can get that man of the match, if you want’, and he went, ‘yeah, I agree’.

“He’s that type of player. He prepares well, he’s got a great attitude to get across his detail, so that’s why he was able to slot back in.”

Schmidt, who was in charge of Ireland between 2013 and 2019, joked Hansen was the best Australian player on the pitch.

“I thought he was super, his experience showed to the fore,” said the New Zealander.

“Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout Australian player on the field. He’s got a great skillset and he’s such a good competitor.”

Schmidt, whose team played the final 10 minutes a man down following a yellow card for replacement lock Nick Frost, added: “The scoreline is disappointing because it got exaggerated somewhat in those last few minutes.

“When you start to overreach and try to create opportunity – particularly with 14 against 15 – then inevitably you lose a bit of your own equilibrium and allow a bit of opportunity or time or space to the opposition.

“Ireland don’t need too many second invitations.”