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After last week's disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland squad to improve their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's finest performance this year.

Making his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty difficult run with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

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

"Whenever I get to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not receive that privilege again.

"My whole focus this period was to take the field and perform what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Good players don't need justifications'

After 28 appearances on the flank, the player was given the full-back role for the initial time with several teammates unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before physical issues ended his dream of making the Test squad.

Having come back recently, he developed a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

The coach had suggested that the player was especially motivated and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for future matches.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You better perform well in those different coloured shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport different boots.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just made that personally regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

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

"So he's that type of player, he trains well, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

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

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the front," commented the ex- international coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout Australian player on the field. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong fit at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the right approach and that was putting the possession 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] pretty satisfying."

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and different player did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the game with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's initial couple of tries came in the first eleven moments while other players registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and attacked the match right from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we managed various elements throughout the game, especially them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on rival soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach a higher level to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.