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

The team responded right away.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's finest performance of the season.

Making his debut international appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty difficult period with injuries really," the athlete stated.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's much discussion about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this seems like family.

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

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications'

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

For him, it was essentially a case of continuing where he finished during the summer.

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

After returned last month, he developed a foot problem that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not empty words as the ex- club player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for future games.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two colored shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's choice to wear mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of player, he prepares well, he's has a great approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the fore," said the ex- national coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the best Australian performer on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a good option at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

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

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the forwards.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was the team framing the match with two impressive spells.

Hansen's initial couple of tries came in the first eleven minutes while other teammates registered in the closing stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the home side finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the match straight from the beginning," said Farrell.

"How we managed various elements throughout the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

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

Farrell's side will require to attain a higher level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.