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Following last week's underwhelming performance against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish squad to step up their game.

The team listened immediately.

Ireland had faded late against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's finest display this year.

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

"You know, I've experienced a pretty challenging period with injuries honestly," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this feels like home.

"Any time I have to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not receive that opportunity again.

"My whole approach this period was to go out and perform what I could do."

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

Following 28 caps on the wing, the player was given the full-back role for the initial time with several players unavailable.

For him, it was simply a matter of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury ended his aspiration of making the international squad.

Having come back last month, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for earlier matches.

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

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those two coloured shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to wear mismatched boots.

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

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's has a great attitude to get across his preparation and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the rival manager, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a great ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong fit 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 suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was placing the ball back on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and another teammate did not look out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was the team framing the match with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's first couple of scores came in the first 11 minutes while additional players registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and approached the match straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"How we handled numerous aspects during the match, especially the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing 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 truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test series on rival territory.

The coach's side will need to attain another standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.