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After their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to improve their game.

Ireland listened right away.

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

Nevertheless, against Australia, they began strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's finest performance this year.

Making his debut international start at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a fairly difficult run with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

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

"Whenever I get to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you may not get that opportunity again.

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

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

Following 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with several teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury disrupted his dream of making the international team.

After returned last month, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty words as the former club player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for upcoming matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to play well in those two coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to wear different boots.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good players require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout opposition performer" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his experience showed to the fore," commented the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best Australian performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong option at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"The player's aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the right approach and that was placing the possession 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 getting the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and another player did not look out of place in his first appearance in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the match with two impressive periods.

The player's first couple of scores came in the first 11 minutes while other players registered in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the beginning," said Farrell.

"How we managed various elements during the game, especially them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing 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 pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's drawn multiple match contest on opposition territory.

The coach's team will require to attain another standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.