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Following their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's best display of the season.

Making his first test match start at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty difficult run with injuries really," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's much discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this seems like home.

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

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

After 28 caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with several teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a matter of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before physical issues disrupted his dream of making the international team.

Having come back recently, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his manager a positive selection headache for upcoming matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those two coloured boots!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's choice to wear different boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting 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 athletes don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's has a great attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he fitted straight back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's performance also earned praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the former national coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the standout opposition performer on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what enables the player a good option at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the middle of the field is something that he does from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"The player's aerial play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the correct approach and that was putting the ball back on them to gain territory.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in operated effectively and different player did not look uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was Ireland framing the match with multiple strong spells.

The player's initial couple of tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while additional players registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the match right from the word go," said the coach.

"How we managed numerous elements throughout the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being across most of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's tied two-Test series on rival soil.

The coach's team will need to reach a higher standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right direction after an disappointing start to their autumn schedule.