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After their previous disappointing showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to step up their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

Ireland had faded late against New Zealand and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's best display of the season.

Making his debut test match start at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty challenging run with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's much discussion about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

"Whenever I have to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you may not get that privilege again.

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications'

Following 28 caps on the flank, the player was given the number 15 role for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

For him, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test team.

Having returned last month, he developed a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

The coach had indicated that the player was especially motivated and these proved not hollow words as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You better perform well in those two coloured shoes!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's choice to sport different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just did that personally anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

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

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains well, he's got a excellent approach to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the rival coach, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the correct thing and that was putting the ball again on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and other teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and different player did not look uncomfortable in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was the team framing the game with two impressive periods.

Hansen's initial couple of scores came in the opening 11 moments while other players registered in the final stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the game straight from the word go," said the coach.

"How we managed various aspects throughout the match, especially them coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's tied multiple match contest on opposition territory.

Farrell's team will require to attain another standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their fall campaign.