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Following last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Ireland team to step up their game.

The team responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, against Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's finest performance of the season.

Making his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult run with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this feels like family.

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

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

Coach stated: 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications'

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the first time with multiple teammates injured.

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

The experienced player had been in superb condition before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test squad.

After returned recently, he suffered a lower body problem that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

The coach had indicated that the player was especially motivated and these proved not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome selection headache for future matches.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better play excellently in those different colored shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to wear different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just did that himself regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

The player's performance also received praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "standout opposition player" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge was evident to the fore," said the ex- international coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what enables Hansen a good option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he does from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the right approach and that was putting the ball back on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the balls back, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and different teammate did not look out of place in his first appearance in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the game with two strong periods.

The player's first couple of tries occurred in the first 11 minutes while additional players registered in the final stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the match straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we managed numerous aspects throughout the game, especially them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test series on opposition territory.

Farrell's team will need to reach a higher level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important step in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.