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Following last week's disappointing showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to step up their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented Ireland's finest performance of the season.

Making his first international start at the number 15 position, the player registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with injuries honestly," the athlete stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this seems like family.

"Whenever I have to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he finished during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before injury ended his dream of joining the international team.

After come back recently, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- club player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better perform excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just made that personally regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a strong fit at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"His aerial work was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the right thing and that was placing the possession back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the balls back, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out operated effectively and different player did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the game with multiple strong periods.

The player's initial two scores occurred in the opening 11 moments while other teammates scored in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

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

"How we managed various aspects during the match, especially them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition territory.

Farrell's team will require to attain another standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall campaign.