Ned Hanigan has a simple message for punters who have anointed him as the Wallabies' new whipping boy: "Keep it coming."
The 22-year-old is adjusting to the harsh scrutiny of the Test spotlight and admits some of his critics might have a point after an admittedly poor performance against South Africa in Perth earlier this month.
He has lost his place in the starting team after coach Michael Cheika opted for Jack Dempsey at blindside flanker for Sunday's (AEST) rematch with the Springboks in Bloemfontein.
Hanigan was left puzzled when he was plucked from relative obscurity and handed a shock debut against Fiji seven Test matches ago.
But he was scratching his head once again when he was retained for Australia's last Rugby Championship outing against Argentina.
"I knew that I didn't perform in Perth," Hanigan told AAP.
"I just didn't feel like I had a game that I'm capable of.
"You're always pretty hard on yourself at this sort of level... I just missed a few cleanouts and things I think I'd like others (would) say I'm not too bad at."
After that game, Hanigan noticed his knockers "revved right up."
"It was sort of deserved, I suppose. You don't look at it too much," he said.
"People are entitled to their opinions and to be honest, (with) the strength of the team's inner circle, it doesn't really matter.
"Keep it coming. If you need a bit of external motivation, there it is."
Hanigan said all he wanted to do was repay the huge faith shown in him by Cheika, who has persisted with the unheralded rookie from Dubbo when he could have deployed a tried and tested veteran, like Scott Fardy, at No.6 instead.
"I guess it's something you try not to let down, is the best way to put it," Hanigan said.
"You know he's put that faith in you so that Perth game -- not performing, as well as individually feeling craphouse, you know you've let your mates, your head coach, your forwards coach down.
"You know you've let your family and friends down. It just keeps going."
Cheika said it would be a "different challenge" for Hanigan to come off the bench against the Springboks.
"Realistically he should never had to play seven games in a row from his debut when he wasn't even playing Super Rugby at the start of the year," he said.
"We could have given him a chance, taken him out, give him another chance and let him build.
"But he has done so well."
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