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After their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Irish squad to improve their game.

The team responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that marked Ireland's finest performance this year.

Making his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for high balls and performed outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult period with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this seems like home.

"Any time I have to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not get that privilege again.

"My whole focus this week was to go out and perform what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

Following twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with several players unavailable.

For him, it was essentially a case of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury disrupted his dream of making the international team.

Having come back last month, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for earlier matches.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those two coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to wear different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but it seems Mack just did that himself regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares well, he's got a great approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," said the ex- national manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout opposition performer on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what enables the player a good fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was placing the possession again on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and another player did not appear out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was the team framing the game with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's first couple of tries came in the opening eleven moments while other teammates scored in the final stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side finished on a high.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the game right from the beginning," said Farrell.

"How we handled various elements during the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being across most of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition territory.

The coach's team will require to reach another standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.