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After last week's disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to step up their performance.

The team listened immediately.

Ireland had faded late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they began strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's finest performance this year.

In his first international start at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging run with fitness issues honestly," Hansen commented.

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

"Any time I get to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not get that opportunity again.

"My entire approach this week was to take the field and perform what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications'

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with multiple teammates injured.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the international team.

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

The coach had suggested that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive selection headache for future games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different coloured boots!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that himself regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's has a great attitude to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the rival manager, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the fore," said the former national manager.

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

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"His aerial work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was putting the possession back 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 possessions back, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out operated effectively and different teammate did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with multiple strong spells.

The player's first two tries occurred in the first eleven moments while additional teammates scored in the final stages after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the Irish team finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the match right from the beginning," said Farrell.

"How we handled various elements during the match, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test series on opposition territory.

The coach's side will need to attain another standard to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall campaign.