Robbie Henshaw scores Ireland's sixth try at the end of Saturday's Test match against Australia at the Aviva Stadium. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Irel and 46 Austral i a 19
Oh ye of little faith. For three weeks, on and off the record, coaches and players alike had been telling us they had a performance like this in the making. And on a squally Saturday night in a packed Aviva, so a record win over Australia came to pass.
This was a well-timed reminder to themselves, the world of punditry and the supporters that Ireland remain a very good side.
“That’s a given for me,” maintained Andy Farrell, who was critical of the previous two displays but never lost faith in his team’s ability. “We’re a very good side. There’s no doubt about that. You could put in all sorts of reasons of why the first performance or the second performance or whatever, but that’s never been in doubt, in my mind anyway.”
Breaking free, in some respects from their own shackles, Ireland shot out of the blocks and then finished with a flourish, the replacements contributing to a true squad effort. They bookended the game with a Mack Hansen hat-trick in the first half-hour and another three tries in an expressive and clinical last 10 minutes.
“Sometimes you prepare really well and it doesn’t
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