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After last week's disappointing showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to improve their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's best display this year.

Making his first test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult period with injuries really," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised 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 may not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

After 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back role for the first time with several players injured.

For him, it was simply a matter of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury ended his dream of making the Test team.

After come back recently, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

The coach had indicated that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty words as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome selection headache for upcoming matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those different colored shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to wear different boots.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," said the ex- international coach.

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

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good fit at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was putting the ball back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and different player did not appear out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two impressive periods.

The player's first couple of tries came in the first eleven moments while other teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and attacked the match straight from the word go," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous aspects during the match, especially them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across most of our game in that second half was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to last year's tied two-Test series on opposition soil.

The coach's team will require to reach another standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct path after an disappointing start to their autumn schedule.