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After their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to improve their performance.

The team listened right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's best display this year.

In his first international start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult run with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this feels like home.

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

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

Coach stated: 'Excellent players don't need excuses'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with multiple players injured.

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

The experienced player had been in superb condition before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the international team.

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

The coach had indicated that the player was especially motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for future matches.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You need to play excellently in those different colored boots!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

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

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's got a great attitude to understand his detail and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's efforts also received commendation from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his experience was evident to the front," commented the former international coach.

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

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good option at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"His high ball work was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of executing the correct approach and that was placing the possession back on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was securing the balls back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and throw-in functioned smoothly and another teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the game with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's initial couple of tries came in the opening 11 moments while additional players registered in the closing exchanges after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish side finished on a positive note.

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

"The way we handled numerous aspects throughout the match, especially the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an informal decider to last year's drawn two-Test series on opposition soil.

Farrell's team will need to attain another level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.