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Following their previous disappointing showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish team to step up their performance.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented the team'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 high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not get that opportunity again.

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

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

After 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

For him, it was simply a case of picking up where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues ended his aspiration of joining the Test squad.

After come back recently, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not empty words as the ex- club player gave his manager a positive team dilemma for future games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, referring to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just did that himself anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's got a excellent attitude to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's performance also earned praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong fit at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's better in position for that frequently.

"His high ball work was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the right approach and that was putting the ball back on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the possessions back, and other players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned smoothly and different teammate did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was Ireland bookending the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's first couple of scores came in the first 11 minutes while other teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the game straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects during the match, especially them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our strategy in that later period was really satisfying."

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

Farrell's team will require to attain another level to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.