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After last week's disappointing performance against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish team to improve their performance.

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's finest display this year.

Making his debut test match appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

"Any time I get to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not receive that privilege again.

"My entire focus this period was to take the field and do what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

Following 28 appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with several players unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before physical issues disrupted his dream of joining the Test team.

Having come back recently, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly determined and these proved not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome team headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those two colored boots!'," said the coach, alluding to the player's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but it seems Hansen just made that himself anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's has a excellent attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the night.

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

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the standout opposition player on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he does from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"His high ball work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was placing the ball again on them to gain territory.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and another player did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was the team framing the game with multiple impressive spells.

The player's first couple of scores came in the opening 11 minutes while other players registered in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the home side finished on a high.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and attacked the match straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"How we managed various aspects during the match, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test series on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will need to reach a higher standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their fall campaign.