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After their previous underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Ireland team to step up their game.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's finest display of the season.

In his first test match start at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with injuries really," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this seems like home.

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

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

After 28 caps on the wing, the player was given the full-back role for the initial time with several players injured.

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

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

Having returned last month, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not hollow words as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive selection headache for future matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better play well in those two colored boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's choice to sport different boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just made that himself regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

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

"So he's that type of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "standout opposition player" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," said the ex- international coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes the player a strong fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is something that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the right thing and that was placing the possession again on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and other players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

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

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and another teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the match with two impressive periods.

Hansen's initial couple of scores occurred in the opening 11 moments while additional teammates scored in the final stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home team finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the match straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we handled numerous elements throughout the match, particularly them 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 most of our game in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn two-Test contest on rival soil.

Farrell's team will require to attain another level to beat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.