Mack Hansen, the Australian-born winger who now plays for Ireland, scored a first-half hat-trick to propel Ireland to a record 46-19 victory over the Wallabies in Dublin on Saturday. Hansen's early tries, all scored within the first 28 minutes, left Australia reeling and unable to recover from a disastrous European tour.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, who previously led Ireland to historic success, admitted that Hansen was the standout Australian player on the pitch. 'Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout Australian player on the field,' Schmidt said after the match, reflecting on the talent that slipped through Australia's grasp.
Hansen, who qualifies for Ireland through his mother, scored his first two tries from slick team handling before completing his treble by scooping up a loose ball after a cross-field kick. His performance earned him the man-of-the-match award, and he expressed his gratitude for representing Ireland. 'Any time I get to play for Ireland, it is a privilege,' he said.
Australia managed tries through Len Ikitau and Fraser McReight in the first half, but a woeful final 10 minutes saw Ireland add three more tries from Caelan Doris, Ryan Baird, and Robbie Henshaw. Billy Pollard scored a consolation try for the Wallabies, but the damage was done. The defeat leaves Australia on the brink of a first winless European tour in 67 years, with a match against France in Paris next week.
Schmidt acknowledged the team's shortcomings, particularly in the final stages. 'I know the question around what we are asking of the Australian public – we can't demand anything on the back of what we did in the last 10 minutes tonight,' he said. Despite the setback, he remains hopeful for the upcoming match against France.
