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Following their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to step up their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

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

However, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's best performance of the season.

In his first test match start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, competed brilliantly for high balls and played outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

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

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

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

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

Coach declared: 'Good players require no justifications'

Following 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the first time with several teammates injured.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury disrupted his dream of joining the Test team.

Having returned recently, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome team headache for upcoming matches.

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

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

"I said to him before the game, 'Good players require no excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains well, he's got a excellent approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge was evident to the fore," commented the former international manager.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the best Australian player on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a good fit at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"The player's aerial 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 back on them to gain territory.

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

Outside Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and another player did not look out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly most satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the game with two strong periods.

The player's first two scores occurred in the opening eleven moments while additional players registered in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a high.

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

"The way we handled numerous aspects during the game, particularly them responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that second half was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match contest on opposition territory.

Farrell's side will require to reach another level to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a important step in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.