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After last week's disappointing performance against Japan, the head coach told his Irish team to step up their performance.

Ireland listened immediately.

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

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that marked Ireland's finest performance this year.

In his first international appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

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

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

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

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

Manager declared: 'Good players require no excuses'

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

In his case, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

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

After come back last month, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive team headache for future matches.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to play well in those different colored shoes!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to sport different footwear.

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

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

Hansen's efforts also earned commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the fore," commented the former international coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a good option at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's better in position for that frequently.

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

"Why that was the right strategy to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was getting the possessions back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 position, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and different player did not look out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's first two scores came in the opening 11 moments while additional players scored in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home side finished on a positive note.

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

"The way we managed various aspects during the match, especially 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 familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test series on opposition territory.

The coach's side will require to reach another level to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the right path after an disappointing start to their autumn campaign.