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Following last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Irish squad to improve their game.

Ireland responded right away.

Ireland had struggled late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's best display this year.

Making his first international appearance at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly difficult run with fitness issues honestly," the athlete commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this seems like family.

"Any time I get to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not get that opportunity again.

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

Manager declared: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the first time with several teammates injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before physical issues disrupted his dream of making the international team.

Having returned last month, he developed a lower body problem that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

The coach had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not empty statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for upcoming matches.

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

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's got a great approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's efforts also received praise from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," said the ex- international coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the best opposition performer on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a strong option at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

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

"Why that was the right strategy to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and additional players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and another player did not look out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the game with two strong periods.

Hansen's first two scores came in the first eleven minutes while other teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the home team concluded on a high.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"How we handled numerous aspects during the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across most of our game in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an informal decider to last year's drawn multiple match series on opposition territory.

The coach's side will require to attain a higher level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.