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After last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to step up their performance.

The team responded immediately.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented Ireland's finest performance of the season.

Making his first international start at full-back, the player scored a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult period with injuries really," the athlete stated.

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

"Whenever I have to play for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you may not receive that privilege again.

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

Coach stated: 'Excellent players don't need justifications'

After 28 appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with several teammates unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the international squad.

After returned recently, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty words as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome team headache for upcoming games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better play well in those two coloured shoes!'," commented Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to sport different footwear.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also received praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian player" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the standout opposition performer on the field. He's has a great ability and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what enables the player a good fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the field is a trait that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's better in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was placing the possession again on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and additional players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the match with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's first two tries occurred in the first 11 moments while other players scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home team concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and approached the match right from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we handled various elements throughout the match, especially them coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an informal decider to last year's tied multiple match series on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will need to attain a higher level to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall campaign.