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After their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Ireland team to step up their performance.

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's best performance of the season.

In his debut test match start at full-back, the player registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for high balls and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging run with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

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

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

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

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

After 28 appearances on the wing, the player was given the full-back position for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

In his case, it was simply a matter of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues ended his aspiration of making the Test team.

After come back recently, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

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

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better play well in those two colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to wear mismatched footwear.

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

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

"So he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

Hansen's efforts also earned commendation from the rival manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the fore," commented the ex- international coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's got a great ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong fit at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

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

"The reason that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was getting the balls returned, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was the team framing the match with multiple strong periods.

Hansen's initial couple of tries occurred in the first 11 minutes while other teammates registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the match straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we managed various aspects throughout the game, particularly them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that second half was truly satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to last year's tied two-Test series on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to attain a higher standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their fall campaign.