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After last week's underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to step up their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked Ireland's finest display this year.

In his debut test match start at full-back, the player scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult run with fitness issues honestly," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

"Whenever I get to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you may not receive that opportunity again.

"My entire focus this period was to go out and perform what I can do."

Coach stated: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with multiple teammates unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a matter of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury ended his aspiration of joining the international team.

After returned last month, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former club player gave his manager a welcome team headache for upcoming games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better perform well in those two coloured boots!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's decision to sport different boots.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but it seems Hansen just made that himself anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's efforts also received praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his experience showed to the fore," commented the ex- national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout Australian performer on the field. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong fit at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the right thing and that was placing the possession back on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the possessions back, and other players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out operated smoothly and another player did not appear out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was the team framing the match with two strong spells.

Hansen's first two tries occurred in the opening 11 minutes while other teammates registered in the final stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish team finished on a positive note.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we handled various elements throughout the game, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn multiple match series on opposition soil.

The coach's team will need to attain another standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.