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After last week's underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to improve their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they started strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented Ireland's finest display of the season.

In his debut test match start at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for high balls and performed exceptionally against the country of his birth.

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

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

"Whenever I have to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

"My whole focus this period was to go out and perform what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Good athletes don't need excuses'

After twenty-eight appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with several teammates injured.

In his case, it was simply a case of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before physical issues ended his aspiration of making the international team.

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

The coach had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not empty statements as the former club player gave his coach a welcome selection dilemma for upcoming matches.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better play well in those two colored shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

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

"So he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's got a excellent approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also earned commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the evening.

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's has a great ability and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables the player a good fit at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

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

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and another teammate did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with multiple strong spells.

The player's initial couple of tries came in the first 11 minutes while other players scored in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team finished on a high.

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

"The way we managed numerous elements during the game, particularly them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with most of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test series on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to attain a higher level to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.