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

The team responded immediately.

The Irish side had struggled late 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 most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that represented the team's finest performance of the season.

In his first international start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with injuries honestly," the athlete stated.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this feels like home.

"Any time I have to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Manager declared: 'Good athletes don't need justifications'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was given the full-back position for the first time with several players unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before injury ended his aspiration of joining the international team.

After come back recently, he developed a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not hollow statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for future matches.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those two colored boots!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that personally regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's got a great attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

The player's performance also earned commendation from the rival manager, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge was evident to the fore," said the former national coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a good option at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the right thing and that was placing the possession again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and another teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the match with multiple strong periods.

Hansen's first two tries occurred in the opening eleven moments while other players registered in the final exchanges after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the home team finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and attacked the match straight from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we managed various aspects during the match, especially them coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being across most of our strategy in that later period was truly satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what might be viewed as an informal decider to the previous season's tied two-Test series on rival territory.

The coach's side will need to reach another level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important step in the correct direction after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.