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After their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish team to improve their game.

The team listened immediately.

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

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that represented Ireland's best display this year.

Making his debut test match appearance at full-back, the player registered a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with injuries honestly," the athlete stated.

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

"Any time I get to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you may not get that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with several teammates injured.

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

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury disrupted his aspiration of making the international team.

Having returned recently, he developed a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

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

"So my first reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those different coloured boots!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to sport different boots.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but it seems Mack just made that himself regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players require no excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also earned praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

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

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

When asked about what enables the player a good option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the correct approach and that was placing the possession back on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was securing the possessions back, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was the team framing the game with two impressive spells.

Hansen's first couple of tries occurred in the first 11 minutes while additional teammates registered in the final stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a positive note.

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

"How we managed various aspects during the game, especially the opposition coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was truly satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal decider to last year's drawn multiple match contest on rival territory.

The coach's side will require to reach a higher level to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn schedule.