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After last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland team to step up their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's finest performance this year.

In his debut international start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, competed brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult run with fitness issues really," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this seems like home.

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

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

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple teammates unavailable.

For him, it was essentially a case of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

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

After returned recently, he developed a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for future games.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different colored shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to sport different footwear.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just made that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares well, he's has a excellent attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also earned commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the front," said the former international coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition performer on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good option at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

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

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned smoothly and different player did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's initial two tries occurred in the first 11 moments while additional players registered in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the beginning," said Farrell.

"How we handled various elements during the game, especially them coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

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

Farrell's team will need to attain a higher standard to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important step in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.