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Following their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to improve their performance.

The team responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's finest display of the season.

In his first international appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for high balls and performed exceptionally against the country of his origin.

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

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this feels like home.

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

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

Manager stated: 'Good players don't need justifications'

After 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with several players unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury disrupted his dream of making the Test team.

Having come back last month, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these proved not empty words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for future games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You better play well in those two coloured boots!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to wear mismatched boots.

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

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

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

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout Australian player on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what enables the player a good fit at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the right thing and that was placing the ball back on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

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

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two impressive spells.

The player's initial two scores came in the first 11 minutes while additional players scored in the final stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the home team concluded on a high.

"I thought we really performed freely and attacked the game straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"How we managed various aspects during the match, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal decider to last year's tied two-Test series on opposition territory.

Farrell's team will require to attain a higher standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the right direction after an disappointing start to their autumn schedule.