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After last week's disappointing showing against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland team to step up their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's finest display of the season.

Making his debut test match start at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've had a pretty difficult run with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand 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 seems like family.

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you may not get that opportunity again.

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

Manager stated: 'Excellent players don't need justifications'

Following 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back role for the initial time with multiple players injured.

For him, it was essentially a case of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

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

After returned recently, he suffered a lower body problem that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not empty words as the former club player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to play well in those different colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but it seems Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Good athletes require no 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 type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a great approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

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

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," said the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best opposition performer on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong option at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of doing the right thing and that was putting the ball again on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and another teammate did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two impressive periods.

The player's initial couple of tries occurred in the first eleven moments while other teammates scored in the final stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the match right from the beginning," said the coach.

"How we handled numerous aspects during the match, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on rival territory.

Farrell's side will need to reach a higher level to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.