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After last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to improve their performance.

Ireland listened immediately.

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

However, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's finest display of the season.

In his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a fairly difficult run with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems 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 receive that privilege again.

"My entire approach this period was to go out and do what I could do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent players don't need excuses'

Following 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with several players injured.

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

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

Having returned recently, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not empty words as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome selection headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those two coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear different footwear.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but it seems Mack just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also earned commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "standout opposition performer" on the evening.

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

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the standout Australian player on the pitch. He's has a great ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a good fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"His aerial play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the correct thing and that was placing the ball again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and different player did not look uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was the team framing the game with multiple impressive periods.

Hansen's first couple of scores occurred in the first eleven moments while additional players registered in the final stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish side concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the match straight from the word go," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous aspects during the game, particularly them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved 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 pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on opposition soil.

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