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Following their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to step up their performance.

Ireland listened immediately.

Ireland had faded late against New Zealand and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's best performance this year.

In his first international appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

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

"I missed 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 adore this group and this seems like family.

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

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent players don't need justifications'

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

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

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

After returned recently, he developed a lower body problem that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

The coach had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive team headache for upcoming games.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those different coloured boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's decision to sport different footwear.

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

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can perform 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 player, he prepares well, he's has a great approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also received commendation from the rival manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the fore," commented the former international manager.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the best Australian player on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a good fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the correct thing and that was putting the ball again on them to gain field position.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and another player did not look out of place in his first start in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was Ireland framing the match with two impressive spells.

The player's first couple of scores came in the opening eleven moments while other players registered in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side finished on a high.

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

"The way we managed numerous elements throughout the game, particularly them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an informal decider to last year's tied multiple match contest on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need 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 path after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.