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Following their previous disappointing showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to step up their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's finest display this year.

Making his first international start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty challenging period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this group and this feels like family.

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

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

Manager stated: 'Excellent players don't need justifications'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back role for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

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

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

After returned last month, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive selection dilemma for future games.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You better perform well in those different coloured shoes!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's decision to wear different footwear.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but it seems Mack just did that personally regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

The player's performance also earned commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the front," said the ex- international manager.

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

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

"His aerial work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the right thing and that was putting the possession back on them to gain territory.

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

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned smoothly and another teammate did not look out of place in his first start in the forwards.

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

The player's first two tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while additional players registered in the final stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the match right from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we managed various aspects during the match, especially the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across most of our game in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to reach another level to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important step in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.