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Following their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Irish squad to step up their performance.

The team responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked Ireland's finest performance this year.

Making his first test match start at full-back, the player registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's considerable talk 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 play for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not get that privilege again.

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

After 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the first time with multiple players unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a case of picking up where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his dream of joining the international team.

After returned last month, he suffered a lower body problem that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

The coach had suggested that the player was especially determined and these proved not hollow statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive team dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those two coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's choice to sport different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's got a great attitude to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

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

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," said the ex- international manager.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the standout Australian performer on the field. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a good option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"His aerial work was brilliant, 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 territory.

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

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and different player did not look out of place in his first start in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the game with two impressive spells.

Hansen's first two scores occurred in the opening eleven minutes while additional players scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a high.

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

"How we managed various elements during the match, especially the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with most of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

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

Farrell's team will need to reach another level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a important step in the correct path after an disappointing start to their fall campaign.