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Following last week's underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to improve their performance.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that represented the team's finest performance of the season.

Making his first test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this feels like home.

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

"My whole approach this week was to take the field and do what I could do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes require no justifications'

Following 28 appearances on the flank, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with several teammates injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before injury disrupted his aspiration of making the international team.

After come back recently, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome team headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You need to play well in those two colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's decision to wear different boots.

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

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a great attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

The player's performance also earned praise from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

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

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout Australian player on the field. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong fit at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was placing the ball again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the possessions back, and other players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned smoothly and different player did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the match with two impressive spells.

The player's first two tries occurred in the first 11 moments while additional players scored in the final stages after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home side concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and attacked the match straight from the word go," said the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects throughout the match, particularly them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what could be considered as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied multiple match contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's team will require to attain a higher standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the right direction after an disappointing start to their autumn campaign.