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Following last week's disappointing showing against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to improve their game.

The team responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a 46-19 triumph that represented the team's finest performance this year.

In his first test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for high balls and performed exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've had a fairly difficult period with injuries really," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's much discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this seems like home.

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

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

Coach stated: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

After 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the number 15 position for the first time with multiple players injured.

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

The experienced player had been in superb form before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of making the Test team.

After returned recently, he developed a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

The coach had suggested that the player was especially determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive team headache for upcoming games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You need to perform well in those different coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's decision to wear different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just made that personally regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's performance also received praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best opposition player on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a good fit at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the right approach and that was placing the ball back on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the possessions back, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the game with multiple impressive spells.

The player's initial couple of scores came in the first eleven moments while additional teammates registered in the final stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a high.

"I thought we really performed freely and approached the game straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed various aspects during the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test series on opposition territory.

Farrell's team will require to reach a higher standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a important step in the right path after an uninspiring start to their autumn schedule.