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Following last week's underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to improve their performance.

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, against the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that represented the team's best display this year.

Making his debut international start at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty difficult run with fitness issues really," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

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

"My entire focus this period was to take the field and do what I could do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes require no justifications'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the first time with several players unavailable.

For him, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he finished during the summer.

The experienced player had been in superb condition before injury disrupted his aspiration of making the international team.

After returned last month, he developed a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these proved not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his manager a positive team headache for upcoming games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those different coloured shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Hansen just made that personally regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good players require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's has a great approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

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

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," said the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout Australian player on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good fit at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"His aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the correct approach and that was putting the ball back on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the balls back, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

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

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 position, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and another teammate did not appear out of place in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was Ireland framing the game with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's initial couple of tries occurred in the first eleven moments while additional players registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the game straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"How we handled numerous aspects during the game, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test series on opposition territory.

The coach's side will require to reach a higher standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their fall campaign.