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Following last week's disappointing showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to step up their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had struggled late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's best performance this year.

In his debut test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for high balls and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like home.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you might not receive that privilege again.

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

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

After 28 appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

In his case, it was simply a case of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test team.

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

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for future matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those different coloured boots!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched footwear.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but it seems Mack just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good players don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's efforts also earned commendation from the rival coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian performer" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the front," commented the ex- international manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best Australian performer on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what enables the player a good option at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's aerial play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the right thing and that was putting the possession back on them to gain field position.

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

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and another player did not look out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's initial couple of scores occurred in the opening 11 minutes while additional players registered in the closing exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the home side finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and attacked the game right from the beginning," stated the coach.

"The way we handled numerous aspects during the match, particularly them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was truly satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test series on rival soil.

The coach's side will require to reach another level to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an uninspiring start to their fall campaign.