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Following their previous disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to step up their game.

Ireland listened right away.

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

However, against Australia, they started strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's best display of the season.

Making his debut international start at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly difficult period with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

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

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

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

Coach declared: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was given the number 15 position for the first time with multiple teammates unavailable.

For him, it was essentially a case of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

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

Having returned recently, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not empty words as the former club player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for upcoming matches.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You need to play excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

"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 said to him before the match, 'Good players don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also earned praise from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian player" on the evening.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," said the former international coach.

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

When asked about what enables the player a strong fit at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"His high ball play was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the right approach and that was placing the ball back on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and another teammate did not look out of place in his first start in the front row.

But possibly more pleasing for the manager was the team framing the game with multiple impressive spells.

The player's initial couple of tries came in the first 11 moments while other teammates scored in the final stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and approached the match straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous aspects throughout the game, especially them responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed 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 might be viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on opposition territory.

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