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Following their previous underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

The team listened immediately.

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

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a 46-19 triumph that represented Ireland's finest display this year.

In his debut international appearance at full-back, the player scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

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

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this seems like family.

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

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

Following twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was given the number 15 role for the first time with multiple players injured.

In his case, it was simply a case of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury disrupted his dream of joining the Test squad.

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

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his manager a positive team headache for upcoming games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better play excellently in those different coloured boots!'," said the coach, referring to the player's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that himself regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to get across his preparation and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the rival manager, who stated he was the "standout opposition player" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the front," said the former international coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the best opposition performer on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a strong option at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"His high ball work was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of doing the right thing and that was putting the ball again on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the possessions back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in operated effectively and different player did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with multiple impressive periods.

Hansen's initial couple of tries came in the first 11 moments while other players registered in the final exchanges after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish team finished on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the match right from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we handled various aspects throughout the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across most of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied two-Test series on opposition territory.

Farrell's side will need to reach a higher standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.