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After last week's underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish squad to step up their performance.

The team listened immediately.

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

However, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's best display this year.

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

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging run with injuries honestly," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this seems like family.

"Whenever I have to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you may not receive that privilege again.

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

Manager declared: 'Good players require no excuses'

After 28 caps on the wing, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his dream of making the Test squad.

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

The coach had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for future matches.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better play well in those two colored boots!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to sport different boots.

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

"I said to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the evening.

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

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong option at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

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

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was securing the possessions returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's first couple of scores occurred in the opening eleven moments while other teammates registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the match right from the word go," said the coach.

"How we handled various elements throughout the game, especially them responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn multiple match contest on rival territory.

Farrell's side will require to attain another standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.