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After their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach told his Irish team to improve their performance.

The team listened right away.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and taken most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they started strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that marked Ireland's best display this year.

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

"Look, I've had a pretty difficult period with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

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

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

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

Manager stated: 'Good players require no justifications'

Following 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with several 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 superb form before injury ended his aspiration of joining the Test squad.

Having come back recently, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not empty words as the ex- club player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for future games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two coloured boots!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's decision to wear mismatched boots.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his preparation and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge was evident to the front," said the former international coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the standout opposition player on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good fit at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the correct approach and that was putting the ball again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was getting the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

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

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out operated smoothly and another player did not look uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the game with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's first couple of scores came in the first eleven minutes while additional teammates scored in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home team finished on a positive note.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and approached the match straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we managed numerous aspects during the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal decider to the previous season's tied two-Test series on rival soil.

Farrell's side will require to attain a higher standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.