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After last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to improve their game.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's finest display this year.

In his first international appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty difficult run with injuries really," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this feels like home.

"Any time I have to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you might not get that privilege again.

"My entire focus this week was to go out and do what I can do."

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

Following 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury ended his aspiration of making the Test squad.

After returned last month, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- club 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 shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to wear different footwear.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that personally anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian performer" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge was evident to the front," commented the former international manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"His high ball play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the right thing and that was putting the possession again on them to secure territory.

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

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and different teammate did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two strong periods.

The player's first couple of tries came in the first eleven moments while additional players scored in the final stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the home team finished on a positive note.

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

"The way we managed various elements throughout the game, especially the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what could be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's tied two-Test series on rival territory.

Farrell's team will require to attain a higher standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.