Australi Mack Hansen lit up Aviva Stadium with a stunning first-half hat-trick that paved the way for a record Ireland win over Australia.
After stuttering to varying degrees in their November Tests against New Zealand and Japan, Ireland were massively improved in front of a full house at Lansdowne Road.
The lineout was unrecognisable from the opening games, the scrum provided a solid base, they dominated the aerial exchanges in slippery conditions and outplayed Joe Schmidt’s team in all facets of the game.
It still wasn’t perfect, with a lull at the end of the first half worrying, but enough to see off a tired Wallabies side and provide a confidence boost ahead of next Saturday’s clash against South Africa.
Hansen’s three tries had Ireland 19-14 up at the half-time and they stayed in command with Sam Prendergast’s drop-goal, while captain Caelan Doris, Ryan Baird and Robbie Henshaw all crossed in the second half to give Andy Farrell’s a deserved 27-point record winning margin over the Rugby Championship side.
Any concerns about the Connacht back making his first Test outing at full-back were quickly dispelled.
Hansen took just 28 minutes to help himself to a hat-trick and bring his international try tally to 15 in 29 caps.
He might only have made a little over 15 metres for the three scores but he was in the right place each time and showed a natural finisher’s instinct.
The first came moments after a Max Jorgensen knock on as he tried to run from his own 22 before lock Jeremy Williams went offside. Jamison Gibson-Park tapped quickly and James Lowe was stopped just short.
But the ball was recycled quickly and Jack Conan, Prendergast and Stuart McCloskey, who departed after just 27 minutes with an injury, popped to Hansen who ran in unopposed under the posts.
The second finish was almost a carbon copy with Prendergast’s clever long free-kick setting up field position.
From a five-metre scrum, Hansen, aided by Prendergast and Henshaw, dived home in the same spot as Australia ran out of defenders.
