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After last week's disappointing showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Ireland team to improve their performance.

The team listened right away.

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

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's best display of the season.

In his debut international appearance at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, contested brilliantly for high balls and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this seems like home.

"Any time I get to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not get that opportunity again.

"My whole approach this period was to go out and perform what I can do."

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

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was given the full-back role for the initial time with several players unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a case of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues disrupted his dream of making the Test team.

Having come back recently, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his manager a positive team dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You need to play well in those two coloured boots!'," commented the coach, referring to the player's choice to wear different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's has a excellent attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also earned commendation from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a great ability and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was placing the ball back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and different player did not appear out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two strong spells.

Hansen's first couple of scores came in the first eleven minutes while other teammates registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish team finished on a high.

"I thought we really performed freely and approached the match right from the word go," stated the coach.

"How we managed numerous elements during the match, particularly them responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across most of our strategy in that second half was truly satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach a higher level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.