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After their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

The team listened immediately.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and taken most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that marked Ireland's best display of the season.

In his first international start at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

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

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

"Any time I have to play for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Manager declared: 'Good players require no excuses'

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple teammates unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before injury ended his aspiration of joining the Test team.

Having come back last month, he suffered a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive selection dilemma for future games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better play well in those different coloured shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to wear mismatched footwear.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's has a great attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was able to be himself due to that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "standout opposition player" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the fore," said the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout Australian performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong fit at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the right approach and that was putting the possession back on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was securing the balls returned, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside the star performer, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and throw-in operated effectively and another teammate did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps most pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the match with multiple strong periods.

Hansen's initial couple of scores occurred in the opening eleven minutes while other teammates registered in the final stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and attacked the match right from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we managed various elements throughout the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be viewed as an informal conclusion to last year's tied multiple match contest on opposition territory.

The coach's side will need to attain a higher standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important step in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their autumn schedule.