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After their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Ireland team to improve their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that marked the team's finest performance this year.

In his first test match start at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you may not get that opportunity again.

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

Coach stated: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

After 28 appearances on the flank, Hansen was given the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

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

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

After come back last month, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his manager a positive team dilemma for future matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to wear different footwear.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's got a great approach to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also earned praise from the rival manager, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what enables the player a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"His aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the correct approach and that was placing the ball again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and another teammate did not look uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was the team framing the game with two impressive periods.

Hansen's first couple of tries occurred in the opening 11 minutes while additional teammates registered in the final stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team finished on a high.

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

"How we handled various aspects throughout the match, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with most of our strategy in that second half was truly pleasing."

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

Farrell's side will need to attain a higher level to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their autumn schedule.