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Following last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to improve their performance.

The team listened right away.

Ireland had struggled late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's finest display of the season.

Making his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging period with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this feels like home.

"Whenever I get to play for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not get that opportunity again.

"My whole focus this period was to go out and perform what I could do."

Coach stated: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

After 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back position for the initial 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 excellent form before physical issues ended his dream of joining the international squad.

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

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his manager a welcome team headache for upcoming games.

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

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

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight back in and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's efforts also earned praise from the rival manager, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," said the former national coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best Australian performer on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong option at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in position for that more often.

"His high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the right thing and that was putting the possession back on them to gain territory.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and throw-in functioned smoothly and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the match with multiple strong spells.

The player's first two tries came in the first eleven minutes while other players scored in the closing exchanges after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and attacked the match straight from the beginning," said Farrell.

"How we managed various elements during the game, especially them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was truly satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on opposition territory.

The coach's side will need to reach another standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important step in the right direction after an disappointing start to their autumn schedule.