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After last week's underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Ireland squad to improve their performance.

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's finest display of the season.

Making his first test match start at full-back, the player registered a hat-trick, contested excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've had a fairly difficult period with fitness issues honestly," the athlete stated.

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

"Any time I have to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was given the number 15 position for the initial time with several teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before physical issues ended his aspiration of making the international team.

Having come back recently, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially motivated and these proved not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive selection headache for upcoming games.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better perform excellently in those different colored boots!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to sport different footwear.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but it seems Mack just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's got a great attitude to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the rival manager, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the front," said the ex- national coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a good option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the right approach and that was placing the possession again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

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

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and another teammate did not appear out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two strong spells.

The player's initial couple of tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while other teammates registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team finished on a high.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and approached the game straight from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we handled various elements during the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was truly satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's drawn two-Test series on opposition territory.

The coach's side will require to reach a higher level to beat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their fall campaign.