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Following last week's disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to step up their performance.

The team listened right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's best display of the season.

In his debut test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

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

"I missed 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 love this group and this feels like family.

"Any time I get to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you may not receive that opportunity again.

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

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

Following 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with several players injured.

For him, it was simply a case of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb condition before physical issues ended his dream of making the Test squad.

After returned recently, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for previous matches.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive selection dilemma for future matches.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those different coloured boots!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent players require no 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 agree.'

"So he's that type of player, he trains well, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted right into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best opposition player on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what makes the player a strong option at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up 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 aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was putting the ball back on them to secure territory.

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

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in operated effectively and different player did not look uncomfortable in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland bookending the game with multiple strong periods.

The player's initial two scores occurred in the opening 11 minutes while additional teammates scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the match straight from the word go," stated Farrell.

"The way we handled various aspects during the game, particularly them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with most of our strategy in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what might be viewed as an informal decider to the previous season's tied two-Test series on rival soil.

Farrell's side will need to attain a higher level to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the right direction after an disappointing start to their fall campaign.