Ireland v Australia player ratings: 'Magic Mack' the standout in defeat of Wallabies

Here's how Andy Farrell's side fared in the reunion with Joe Schmidt.

TREBLE TOPS: Ireland’s Tommy O'Brien celebrates with hat-trick hero Mack Hansen. Pic: INPHO/Gary Carr

Ireland 

15. Mack Hansen 

Magic Mack, a sharpshooter extraordinaire with a hat-trick within half-an-hour. The Aviva welcomed back one of its favourite adopted sons with sustained roars. Back in the fold after injury, a new start at full-back but same old Hansen, full of life, full of running, full of possibilities. One ugly knock-out was the only blot in the copybook. 9.5 

14. Tommy O’Brien 

The spotlight in the back-three may have fallen elsewhere but O’Brien was always eager to get involved as best he could, putting pressure in the air and laying back the ball for Hansen’s third try. 7 13 – Robbie Henshaw A shoulder to the wheel sort of night for Henshaw, tidying and pressurising and keeping things honest on what was a tricky night for handling with the constant drizzle. Willing as ever and got recompense with the last try. 7 

12. Stuart McCloskey 

A distressing evening for the Ulster centre, leaving the field in the 27th minute with what appeared to be a hip or leg injury. He had looked to be in decent nick up to that point. 5 

11. James Lowe 

A bit of a mixed bag which has been the tale of Lowe’s recent play. Earnest and hard-working but at times lacked the polish and accuracy needed to make best use of his efforts. One dreadful fumble led to a Wallaby try. 6.5 

10. Sam Prendergast 

Trusted with the shirt, it was time to deliver for the Leinster out-half, time to show that he could defend as well as attack and he did that with a big early shot on his opposite number, James O’Connor, although he was later skinned by Wallaby wing, Daugunu Trademark lovely touches in attack, one gliding break in particular. Neat drop-goal, too. 8.5

9. Jamison Gibson-Park 

Alert and influential. It was Gibson-Park’s sharp-eyed tap penalty that triggered the first try and the scrum-half was close to the action throughout, firing away his passes or hoisting high for his chasers. 9 

1. Paddy McCarthy 

Built on firm foundations. McCarthy had a dream try-scoring start against Japan and showed under more pressure that he can put in a hearty shift at the coal-face with the Ireland scrum looked assured. Replaced early in the second half. 6.5 

2. Dan Sheehan 

A decent clean-up operation at the lineout. The misfiring set-piece last week was not all due to the Leinster hooker but it’s his area of speciality and he managed to secure more stability. A reassuring return to form. 7 

3. Tadhg Furlong 

Got on with the job in hand, setting and settling the scrum into a productive evening. Also made himself available to take the ball up into traffic. 7 

4. James Ryan 

Solid if unspectacular, as much due to the elements as to anything linked to Ryan’s performance which was fine in the circumstances. Ryan knuckled down to the task at hand before giving way in the second half. 6

5. Tadhg Beirne 

There were plenty of sightings of the blue headguard as he helped get hands to the pump as Australia came hard at them in the close quarter exchanges. With South Africa on the horizon, Ireland will be concerned that they conceded tries to the Wallaby power game. 6.5 

6. Ryan Baird 

Didn’t shirk a thing, smashing into Daugunu at one point and looking to stem the gold flow as the Wallabies changed focus and went straight and hard round the fringes, getting on the scoresheet with a late score. 7.5 

7. Caelan Doris 

Good jackalling skills at the breakdown even though in the unfamiliar position of openside, switching back to well-known territory when Nick Timoney came on. Become increasingly prominent and deserved his try. 7.5

8. Jack Conan 

Did the spade work, digging out ball and clearing up any mess as Australia narrowed up and came hard at Ireland close to the point of breakdown. It was a draining task but Conan was up to it. 6.5 

Replacements: The bench was charged with boosting the energy levels on the field and up in the stands after it all went a bit flat in the third quarter. The result was not really in doubt given Ireland’s dominance although they were not that far clear on the scoreboard. The replacements saw Ireland home and to a record score, adding thrust and clever touches. Jack Crowley squeezed out a few more points within minutes of coming on around the hour mark. The Munster out-half was eager to show what he had to offer pre Springbok selection after a super showing from Prendergast. It was a good 20 minute cameo from Crowley and will cause Andy Farrell to ponder his options. Kelleher kept the lineout functioning and showed well round the field as did Porter. 8