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After last week's disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to improve their game.

The team listened right away.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a 46-19 triumph that represented Ireland's best display this year.

Making his debut test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty challenging period with injuries honestly," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with several teammates injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before physical issues disrupted his dream of joining the Test team.

Having come back recently, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for future games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different colored boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's choice to wear different boots.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

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

"So he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also earned commendation from the rival manager, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the front," said the former national coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the best Australian performer on the pitch. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the field is something that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the correct thing and that was placing the ball again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was getting the possessions returned, and other players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and different player did not appear out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was Ireland bookending the match with multiple impressive periods.

Hansen's first two scores occurred in the opening eleven minutes while additional teammates scored in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a high.

"I thought we really performed freely and approached the match right from the beginning," stated the coach.

"How we handled numerous elements during the match, especially the opposition responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal decider to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition soil.

The coach's team will need to reach another standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the right path after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.