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Following last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to improve their performance.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

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

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like family.

"Any time I have to represent 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 approach this week was to take the field and do what I could do."

Coach declared: 'Good players don't need excuses'

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

In his case, it was simply a matter of continuing where he finished during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury ended his dream of joining the Test team.

Having come back last month, he suffered a lower body problem that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the former provincial player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for upcoming matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those two colored boots!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just did that personally anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, '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 want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares well, he's has a great attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he slotted right back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the evening.

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

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the standout Australian player on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables the player a good option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the right approach and that was placing the possession again on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

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

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was the team framing the game with two strong spells.

The player's first couple of scores occurred in the first 11 moments while other teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we really performed freely and approached the match right from the word go," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed various elements during the game, particularly them responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's drawn multiple match series on rival soil.

Farrell's side will need to attain another level to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important step in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.