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After their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland team to step up their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive triumph that represented the team's finest performance of the season.

In his debut test match appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty challenging run with injuries honestly," Hansen stated.

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

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

"My whole focus this week was to take the field and perform what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes require no justifications'

After 28 caps on the flank, the player was given the full-back position for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury ended his dream of making the Test squad.

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

The coach had suggested that the player was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the ex- club player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those different colored shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to sport different footwear.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but apparently 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, 'Good players don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's has a great approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he slotted right into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also received praise from the rival manager, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the evening.

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what enables Hansen 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 imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play 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 gain field position.

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was getting the possessions returned, and additional players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and different teammate did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with multiple strong spells.

The player's first couple of scores came in the opening eleven moments while other teammates registered in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the match right from the word go," stated Farrell.

"How we managed various aspects throughout the game, especially 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 most of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an unofficial conclusion to last year's tied two-Test contest on rival territory.

Farrell's side will require to reach another standard to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.