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After their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

The team responded immediately.

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

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's finest display of the season.

In his first international start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging run with injuries honestly," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this group and this seems like family.

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

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

Manager declared: 'Good players don't need justifications'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was given the full-back position for the initial time with multiple teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a matter of continuing where he finished during the summer.

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

Having come back recently, he suffered a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

The coach had indicated that the player was especially determined and these proved not empty statements as the former club player gave his coach a welcome selection headache for future matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those different coloured boots!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport different boots.

"Actually 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 begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's efforts also earned praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian performer" on the night.

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes the player a good option at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's better in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the right approach and that was placing the ball back on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was getting the possessions back, and additional players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and different teammate did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the forwards.

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

The player's first two scores occurred in the opening 11 minutes while additional players scored in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the home side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and attacked the match straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"How we handled numerous aspects throughout the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test series on opposition soil.

The coach's team will require to attain another standard to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their autumn schedule.