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Following last week's disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to step up their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's best performance this year.

In his first international start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his origin.

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

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this feels like home.

"Any time I have to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you may not get that privilege again.

"My entire approach this week was to go out and do what I can do."

Manager declared: 'Good athletes don't need excuses'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back role for the first time with multiple players unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb condition before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test squad.

Having returned recently, he developed a foot problem that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome team headache for future games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those different colored shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to sport different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but it seems Mack just made that himself regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's got a excellent attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the fore," commented the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout Australian player on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a strong option at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the correct approach and that was placing the possession back on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and additional players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the scrum and throw-in operated effectively and another player did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the match with multiple strong periods.

Hansen's first couple of tries came in the first 11 moments while additional players registered in the final stages after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the game straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"How we handled numerous aspects throughout the match, especially them coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with most of our strategy in that later period was truly satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's tied multiple match series on rival territory.

The coach's team will need to reach another level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their autumn schedule.