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After their previous disappointing performance against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish team to improve their performance.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's best performance of the season.

In his first test match start at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

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

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

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

"My whole approach this period was to take the field and perform what I could do."

Coach stated: 'Excellent athletes require no justifications'

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with several teammates injured.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb form before physical issues ended his aspiration of joining the Test squad.

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

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the former club player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better perform excellently in those two colored boots!'," commented Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to wear different footwear.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

The player's performance also received praise from the rival manager, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the ex- international manager.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the best Australian player on the field. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

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

"His aerial play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the correct thing and that was placing the ball again on them to secure field position.

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

Outside the star performer, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the game with two impressive periods.

Hansen's first couple of tries came in the opening eleven minutes while additional teammates registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the game right from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we handled numerous elements during the game, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test series on rival soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach another level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct path after an disappointing start to their fall campaign.