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Following their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to improve their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's best performance of the season.

Making his debut test match start at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen stated.

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

"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 get that opportunity again.

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

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

After 28 appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with multiple players injured.

For him, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he finished during the summer.

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

Having come back recently, he developed a lower body problem that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

The coach had indicated that the player was especially motivated and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for future matches.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You need to play excellently in those two colored shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's choice to wear different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but it seems Mack just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted right into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

Hansen's performance also received praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition player" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his experience showed to the front," commented the ex- national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best opposition player on the pitch. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a strong option at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's aerial play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was putting the ball back on them to gain field position.

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

Outside the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and different teammate did not appear out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the match with two strong periods.

The player's first couple of scores occurred in the opening 11 moments while other players registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the game straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we handled numerous elements during the match, particularly the opposition responding 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 familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's tied two-Test contest on rival soil.

The coach's team will need to reach another standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important step in the correct path after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.