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After last week's disappointing showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to improve their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

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

However, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's best display this year.

Making his debut international appearance at full-back, the player scored a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult run with fitness issues honestly," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's much talk about me not necessarily 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 honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not receive that opportunity again.

"My whole approach this week was to go out and perform what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Good athletes don't need excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with several players unavailable.

For him, it was simply a matter of picking up where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury ended his dream of making the international squad.

After returned recently, he developed a foot problem that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not empty words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for future matches.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those different colored boots!'," commented Farrell, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Hansen just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the front," commented the ex- international coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the best Australian performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a good fit at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's better in position for that more often.

"His aerial play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the right thing and that was putting the ball again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the possessions back, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with multiple strong spells.

The player's first couple of tries came in the opening eleven minutes while other teammates registered in the closing stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish team finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the match straight from the beginning," said Farrell.

"How we managed various elements throughout the game, particularly them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that second half was truly satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to last year's tied two-Test contest on rival soil.

Farrell's side will need to attain another level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a important step in the right path after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.