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

Ireland listened immediately.

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

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that marked Ireland's best performance of the season.

Making his debut test match appearance at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for high balls and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

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

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like family.

"Whenever I have to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes require no justifications'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, the player was given the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple players injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury ended his dream of making the international squad.

Having come back recently, he developed a lower body injury that ruled him out for earlier matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for future matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better play well in those two colored boots!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to wear mismatched footwear.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just made that himself regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

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

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's has a great approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also received commendation from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his experience showed to the fore," said the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best opposition player on the pitch. He's has a great ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good fit at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"His aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the right approach and that was placing the ball again on them to secure territory.

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

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and different teammate did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was the team framing the match with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's initial two tries occurred in the first 11 moments while other teammates registered in the final stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the home team concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and attacked the game right from the word go," stated the coach.

"How we managed numerous aspects throughout the game, especially them coming back 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 across most of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

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

The coach's side will require to reach another standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall campaign.