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Following their previous disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to improve their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had struggled late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's best display of the season.

Making his debut international appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've had a pretty difficult run with fitness issues really," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

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

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

Coach stated: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

After twenty-eight appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury disrupted his aspiration of making the Test squad.

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

The coach had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better perform well in those different colored shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

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

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

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's has a great approach to get across his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's performance also earned praise from the rival coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout Australian player on the field. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is something that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that more often.

"His aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was placing the ball back on them to secure territory.

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

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

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and another player did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two impressive periods.

Hansen's first couple of scores occurred in the opening eleven moments while other teammates scored in the final stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the home side concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the game right from the beginning," stated the coach.

"How we managed numerous elements throughout the match, particularly them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an informal decider to last year's drawn two-Test series on rival soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach another level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.