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After their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to improve their game.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, against Australia, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's finest display of the season.

In his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've had a pretty challenging run with injuries honestly," the athlete stated.

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

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not get that opportunity again.

"My whole approach this week was to go out and perform what I could do."

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

Following 28 appearances on the flank, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the initial time with several players injured.

For him, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he left off during the summer.

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

After returned recently, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive team dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those two colored shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to wear different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to understand his preparation and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also earned praise from the rival coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," said the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the best opposition player on the pitch. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong option at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the right thing and that was putting the possession again on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was getting the possessions back, and other teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and another teammate did not look out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with multiple strong periods.

The player's first two tries occurred in the opening 11 minutes while other players scored in the final stages after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

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

"How we handled various elements throughout the game, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across most of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied multiple match contest on rival soil.

The coach's side will need to attain another level to defeat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a important step in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their autumn campaign.