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Following their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach told his Irish team to improve their game.

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's best display of the season.

In his first test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's considerable talk about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like family.

"Whenever I have to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you may not get that privilege again.

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent players don't need excuses'

After 28 appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the first time with multiple players injured.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury ended his dream of making the international squad.

Having returned last month, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially motivated and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the former club player gave his manager a positive team dilemma for future matches.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You better perform well in those different colored shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to wear different boots.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players require no excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also earned praise from the rival coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian performer" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the former international coach.

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

When asked about what makes the player a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"His high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was putting the ball again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was securing the balls returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and different player did not look out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the game with two strong spells.

The player's initial couple of tries occurred in the first 11 moments while other players registered in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home team finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and attacked the match right from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we managed various aspects during the match, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test contest on opposition territory.

Farrell's side will need to attain another level to beat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.