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After last week's underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to step up their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

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

Making his debut test match appearance at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly challenging period with fitness issues honestly," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's considerable talk about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this seems like family.

"Any time I get to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you may not receive that privilege again.

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

Coach stated: 'Good athletes don't need justifications'

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was given the number 15 position for the first time with several players unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb form before physical issues ended his dream of joining the international team.

Having come back last month, he developed a lower body problem that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the former club player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to play well in those two colored shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's choice to sport different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just did that himself anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no 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 trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

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

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," commented the ex- national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the standout opposition player on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a good fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's better in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the correct thing and that was placing the possession again on them to gain territory.

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

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in operated effectively and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two impressive periods.

Hansen's first couple of scores came in the opening 11 moments while other players registered in the closing stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish team finished on a positive note.

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

"How we handled various elements during the game, especially them responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across most of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition territory.

The coach's team will require to attain another standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.