The words of Andy Farrell rang true to Mack Hansen as he tried to deal with his pre-match nerves in the home dressing-room at the Aviva Stadium.
"He said something to me that really stuck with me," said Hansen, speaking over an hour after his Ireland debut went to plan.
"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."
He did. Hansen was still gathering himself over an hour after picking up the man of the match award on what was not just his Six Nations debut, but his first Ireland appearance.
The man from Down Under with the mam who hails from Castlemartyr in Cork looked to the manor born at the Aviva Stadium yesterday.
Hansen can rightly feel proud of a performance that saw him always involved - like for his skip-pass to Connacht colleague Bundee Aki in the second minute that got Ireland's try count up and running.
He was also heavily involved with his westerners team-mate for Garry Ringrose's bonus point fourth try.
But then Connacht fans - and rugby enthusiasts beyond the province - have raved about the 23-year-old since he arrived from the Brumbies in the summer.
Underneath that seemingly carefree attitude and those flowing locks, there's a dangerous rugby brain at work. This is just the beginning.
"I'm just still in shock about everything and I'm just trying to take it all in. I'm feeling pretty amazing, to be honest," smiled Hansen.
He enjoys himself on the pitch and rightly looked pleased when he was announced as RTE's man of the match. He smiled and waved at the crowd.
"It was during a break (in play)so I did hear it, and I think I did have a little smile," said Hansen. "So it was a special moment, but then back into it waiting for that lineout. I did get to enjoy it."
His parents are due to come to Galway later this year but watched their son's Ireland bow at home, in the middle of the Canberra night.
"I gave my parents a call, my parents and my brother," Hansen said.
"Some of my mates, there's a club back home that show all the matches, and I think they're out there - I'm staying away from their calls for the time being!
"It was good to talk to Mum and Dad and my brother Jake to enjoy this experience with them.
"They were just stoked for me, they were proud. They were a bit the same as me, speechless."
Hansen admits he will never forget the build-up to his debut, including when Aki and Jack Carty presented him with his jersey.
"It was amazing," he said. "I've never been to Portugal so it was a bit bizarre being back in hot weather, having to put sunscreen on again.
"The boys have been training extremely hard and we've been building something really strong so it was great to show it off.
"When I got named this week they did everything they could to make it a special experience for me. I can't thank everyone involved enough.
"When the sheet came up and it had my name on it, I was absolutely stoked to be involved with this team.
"It was definitely an aspiration of mine going to Connacht, looking to play for such a great rugby nation. I consider this place home now, and I will for a long time.
"So to get my first cap for Ireland is something I'll remember forever."
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