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Following last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Ireland squad to improve their game.

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked Ireland's finest performance of the season.

Making his debut international appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult period with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not get that opportunity again.

"My entire approach this week was to take the field and perform what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Good players require no excuses'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, the player was given the full-back role for the first time with several players unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a case of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury ended his aspiration of making the international squad.

After returned last month, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive selection headache for future games.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different colored shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to the player's decision to wear mismatched footwear.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but it seems Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

The player's efforts also earned commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the fore," commented the ex- national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best Australian performer on the field. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good option at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"His aerial work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we persisted of executing the right approach and that was putting the ball again on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with multiple strong periods.

Hansen's first two scores came in the opening eleven minutes while other teammates registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the game straight from the beginning," stated the coach.

"The way we handled various elements during the game, particularly them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving 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 might of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition soil.

The coach's side will require to reach another standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.