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

The team responded right away.

Ireland had struggled late against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they started strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented the team's finest display of the season.

Making his debut test match appearance at full-back, the player scored a three tries, contested brilliantly for high balls and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's considerable talk about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this feels like home.

"Any time I have to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you may not get that privilege again.

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

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

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was given the number 15 role for the initial time with several players unavailable.

For him, it was essentially a case of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before physical issues ended his aspiration of joining the international squad.

Having come back last month, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome selection dilemma for future games.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those different colored shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but apparently Mack just did that personally anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's got a excellent approach to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's efforts also received commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout opposition performer" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," said the ex- international coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the best Australian player on the pitch. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong option at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of doing the correct thing and that was placing the possession back on them to gain field position.

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

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and another teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was the team framing the game with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's first couple of scores occurred in the first 11 moments while other teammates scored in the final stages after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and approached the game straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we handled numerous aspects throughout the game, especially them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across most of our game in that later period 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 tied two-Test series on rival soil.

The coach's side will require to reach another standard to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.