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Following last week's disappointing showing against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

The team responded immediately.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they began strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a 46-19 triumph that marked the team's finest performance this year.

In his debut international start at full-back, the player registered a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging run with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this feels like home.

"Any time I have to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the flank, the player was given the number 15 role for the first time with several players unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a matter of picking up where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before physical issues ended his dream of joining the international squad.

Having returned recently, he developed a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not empty statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome selection headache for upcoming games.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those two colored boots!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to wear different boots.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just made that personally regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's got a great attitude to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the ex- national coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout Australian performer on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good fit at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was placing the ball again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out operated smoothly and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was the team framing the game with multiple strong spells.

The player's first couple of scores occurred in the first 11 moments while additional players registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the match right from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we handled numerous elements throughout the match, especially the opposition coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn multiple match contest on rival territory.

The coach's team will need to reach another level to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their autumn schedule.