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Following their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish team to improve their performance.

The team listened immediately.

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

Nevertheless, against Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's finest display this year.

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

"Look, I've had a fairly difficult period with injuries honestly," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

"Whenever I have to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you may not receive that privilege again.

"My entire approach this week was to take the field and perform what I can do."

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

After twenty-eight appearances on the wing, the player was given the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before physical issues ended his dream of making the international team.

After come back last month, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a welcome team headache for upcoming matches.

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

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but it seems Mack just made that personally regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's has a excellent approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

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

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best opposition performer on the field. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a good option at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is something that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of doing the right approach and that was putting the ball again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

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

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and throw-in operated effectively and different player did not look out of place in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the match with two impressive spells.

Hansen's initial couple of tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while additional teammates scored in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the home team finished on a high.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and approached the match right from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we handled various aspects during the match, especially them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across most of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied two-Test series on rival soil.

Farrell's side will require to reach another standard to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.