Debutant Hansen turns on the power for Ireland

Mack Hansen decided he would never make the grade as an electrician in Australia but judging by his man of the match Test debut for Ireland on Saturday, he is set to light up the international stage for years to come.

The 23-year-old Australia-born wing -- whose mother was born in Ireland before emigrating -- came close to scoring a try inside the first three minutes at Lansdowne Road in the 29-7 Six Nations victory over defending champions Wales.

Showing little sign of frustration, he provided the pass to his Connacht team-mate Bundee Aki to score Ireland's first try a minute later.

Whilst his fellow wing Andrew Conway was to score a brace of tries, Hansen was everywhere, popping up in the middle of the pitch and on the opposite wing.

The former Brumbies player fully justified Ireland coach Andy Farrell's decision to blood him at a packed Lansdowne Road.

With Jacob Stockdale and James Lowe injured, Farrell opted to go with him just months into his spell at Connacht rather than the more experienced Jordan Larmour.

"He (Farrell) said something to me that really stuck," said Hansen.

"He said, 'if you can't be yourself, there's no point putting on the jersey'.

"When Andy says something like that, it sticks with you. Just go out there and enjoy yourself, that's all you do at the end of the day." Hansen, who once said he pulled the plug on being an electrician because he was so bad at the trade, had not believed he was in the starting XV.

"In the morning, Bundee (Aki) told me that I was in the squad, but I hadn't heard anything, seen an email or anything," he said.

"I didn't know if he was joking or not. Then, when the sheet came up, and it had my name on it, I was stoked.

"Hansen certainly impressed that hardest of taskmasters, Ireland