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Following last week's underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

The team listened right away.

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

However, against Australia, they began strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented Ireland's best performance of the season.

In his first international start at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly difficult period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not get that opportunity again.

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

Manager declared: 'Good players don't need justifications'

After 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with several players injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before injury disrupted his aspiration of making the Test squad.

After returned recently, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier matches.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not empty words as the ex- club player gave his manager a positive team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You need to play well in those different colored shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just made that personally regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good players don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's got a great approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the fore," said the former international manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout Australian player on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables Hansen a good fit at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the middle of the field is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's better in position for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the right approach and that was placing the possession back on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and other players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the game with multiple impressive periods.

The player's first two tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while other teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and approached the match straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"How we managed various elements during the game, especially the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an informal decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on opposition soil.

Farrell's team will need to attain another level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important step in the correct direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall campaign.