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Following last week's disappointing performance against Japan, the head coach told his Irish team to improve their performance.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and taken most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they started strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a 46-19 triumph that represented Ireland's best display this year.

In his debut international appearance at full-back, the player registered a hat-trick, contested excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty challenging run with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's much talk about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this group and this seems like family.

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not get that opportunity again.

"My entire approach this period was to go out and perform what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

After 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with multiple players unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test team.

After come back last month, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for future games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to play well in those two coloured boots!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good players require no justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's got a excellent approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's efforts also earned commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," said the ex- international coach.

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

When asked about what makes the player a strong fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is something that he does from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the right approach and that was placing the ball back on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and other players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two impressive spells.

Hansen's initial two scores came in the first 11 moments while other players registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home team concluded on a high.

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

"How we handled various aspects during the game, particularly them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that later period was truly satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on rival territory.

The coach's team will need to reach a higher level to beat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.