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Following last week's disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to improve their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and required considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's best performance of the season.

Making his first international appearance at full-back, the player scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty challenging period with fitness issues honestly," the athlete commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not get that opportunity again.

"My entire focus this week was to go out and perform what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

Following 28 caps on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with several teammates injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test team.

Having returned last month, he developed a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

The coach had indicated that the player was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive selection headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You better play excellently in those different coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched footwear.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," commented the former national coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables the player a strong option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the right thing and that was putting the possession again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was getting the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and different player did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the match with multiple impressive periods.

The player's initial two scores occurred in the opening 11 minutes while other teammates registered in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the home side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the match straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"How we handled various aspects throughout the match, especially the opposition coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

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

Farrell's team will need to reach another level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.