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Following last week's underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland team to improve their game.

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's best performance of the season.

Making his debut test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

"Any time I have to play for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you may not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach stated: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with several teammates injured.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent form before physical issues ended his aspiration of making the international squad.

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

The coach had indicated that the player was particularly determined and these proved not empty words as the former club player gave his manager a positive selection headache for upcoming matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You need to play well in those two coloured boots!'," commented the coach, referring to the player's choice to sport mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

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

"So he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also earned commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the standout opposition player on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's better in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the right thing and that was putting the possession back on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out operated smoothly and another teammate did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was the team framing the game with multiple strong spells.

The player's initial couple of scores occurred in the first eleven minutes while additional players registered in the closing exchanges after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the beginning," stated the coach.

"The way we managed numerous aspects throughout the game, especially the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's tied multiple match series on rival territory.

Farrell's side will need to attain another standard to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right path after an disappointing start to their fall campaign.