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After last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's finest display of the season.

Making his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've had a fairly difficult period with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's considerable talk about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this seems like home.

"Whenever I get to play for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not get that privilege again.

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

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

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with several teammates injured.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the warmer months.

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

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

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty words as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You better play well in those different colored boots!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched boots.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains well, he's got a great approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight back in 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 player" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," said the former national manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good option at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we persisted of executing the correct approach and that was placing the ball again on them to gain territory.

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

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out operated smoothly and another teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was the team framing the game with two impressive spells.

Hansen's initial couple of scores occurred in the opening 11 minutes while other teammates scored in the final stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the match straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we handled numerous aspects during the game, particularly them coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that second half was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test series on rival soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach a higher standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.