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After last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish squad to step up their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, against Australia, they began strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that represented Ireland's best performance of the season.

In his debut international appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty challenging run with injuries really," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this feels like home.

"Any time I have to play for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not receive that privilege again.

"My whole approach this period was to go out and perform what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses'

After 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was given the full-back role for the initial time with several players unavailable.

For him, it was simply a matter of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury disrupted his aspiration of making the Test team.

After come back last month, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these proved not hollow words as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive team headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those two coloured shoes!'," commented Farrell, alluding to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched footwear.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the rival coach, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the former international manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout Australian player on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the field is something that he does from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"His aerial work was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was placing the possession back on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was getting the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland bookending the game with two strong periods.

The player's initial two tries came in the opening eleven moments while additional teammates scored in the closing stages after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the game right from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we handled numerous elements during the game, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across most of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what might be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn multiple match contest on rival soil.

The coach's team will require to attain another standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.