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Following their previous disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to step up their performance.

The team listened right away.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's finest display this year.

In his debut international appearance at full-back, the player registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen commented.

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

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Manager stated: 'Good players require no excuses'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was given the full-back position for the first time with several players unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The experienced player had been in superb form before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of making the international squad.

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

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome selection dilemma for future matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better play well in those different coloured boots!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport different footwear.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted straight back in and he was able to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also earned commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "standout opposition player" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the former international coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best opposition player on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong option at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"His aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the right approach and that was placing the ball back on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's first two tries came in the opening eleven minutes while additional teammates scored in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home team finished on a high.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the match right from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous elements throughout the game, especially the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on opposition soil.

The coach's side will need to reach a higher level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct path after an disappointing start to their autumn campaign.