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After their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to improve their performance.

Ireland listened immediately.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's best performance this year.

Making his debut international start at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult run with fitness issues honestly," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's much discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this feels like family.

"Any time I get to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

"My whole focus this week was to take the field and perform what I could do."

Coach stated: 'Good athletes don't need excuses'

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

In his case, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent form before physical issues ended his dream of joining the Test team.

Having come back last month, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those different colored shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just made that personally regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," said the ex- international manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good option at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he does from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's better in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was placing the possession again on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was getting the balls back, and other players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and different player did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was the team framing the game with multiple impressive periods.

The player's first couple of tries came in the opening 11 moments while other teammates registered in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish side finished on a high.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the game right from the word go," stated the coach.

"How we managed numerous aspects throughout the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly satisfying."

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

The coach's side will require to reach a higher standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.