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After last week's disappointing performance against Japan, the head coach told his Irish squad to step up their performance.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's best performance of the season.

In his debut test match start at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

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

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

"Whenever I get to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

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

Following 28 appearances on the flank, the player was given the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a case of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before physical issues ended his aspiration of making the Test team.

Having returned recently, he suffered a lower body injury that ruled him out for earlier matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former club player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You better perform well in those two colored boots!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to wear different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's got a great attitude to understand his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also received praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," said the ex- international manager.

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

Pressed about what enables the player a strong fit at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the middle of the field is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"His high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the correct thing and that was placing the possession again on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions back, and other players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and throw-in functioned effectively and another player did not look out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly more satisfying for the manager was Ireland framing the game with multiple impressive periods.

The player's initial two scores came in the opening eleven minutes while other teammates registered in the closing exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the match right from the beginning," said the coach.

"How we managed various aspects during the game, especially the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn multiple match contest on opposition territory.

The coach's team will require to reach another level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.