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After their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish squad to improve their performance.

The team responded immediately.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and required considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented the team's best performance this year.

In his first international appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly challenging run with fitness issues honestly," the athlete stated.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this seems like family.

"Whenever I get to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not get that opportunity again.

"My whole focus this period was to go out and do what I could do."

Coach stated: 'Excellent players don't need excuses'

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the first time with several players unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of picking up where he finished during the summer.

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury ended his dream of making the international team.

After come back last month, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not empty statements as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for future matches.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You need to perform well in those different colored boots!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's choice to wear different footwear.

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

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's got a great approach to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," commented the ex- international manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong fit at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that more often.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the correct approach and that was putting the ball back on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and another player did not appear out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps most pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the game with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's first couple of tries occurred in the opening 11 moments while other players scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home side finished on a positive note.

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

"How we managed numerous elements during the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an informal conclusion to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on opposition territory.

The coach's team will need to reach another standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.