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

The team responded immediately.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's best display this year.

Making his first international start at full-back, the player scored a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with fitness issues really," Hansen commented.

"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 get to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

After 28 caps on the wing, the player was given the full-back position for the first time with multiple players injured.

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

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

After come back last month, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially motivated and these proved not empty statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive selection dilemma for future matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those different coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's got a great attitude to get across his preparation and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," commented the former national manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the best Australian player on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables the player a strong option at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that more often.

"His aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the right approach and that was placing the possession back on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the possessions back, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and another teammate did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's first couple of tries came in the opening 11 moments while additional teammates registered in the final exchanges after the other team had crossed, ensuring the home side finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the beginning," stated the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects during the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across most of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn multiple match contest on rival soil.

The coach's team will require to attain a higher level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.