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After their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland squad to step up their game.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's finest performance of the season.

Making his first international start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, competed brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly challenging run with fitness issues really," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this feels like home.

"Whenever I get to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that opportunity again.

"My whole focus this period was to go out and do what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

Following 28 caps on the wing, the player was given the number 15 role for the initial time with several players injured.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues disrupted his dream of making the international squad.

After returned recently, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not empty words as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive selection headache for future matches.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to play well in those different colored boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's decision to wear different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's has a excellent attitude to understand his detail and so that's why he slotted right into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also received praise from the rival coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," said the ex- national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the standout Australian player on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the right approach and that was putting the ball again on them to gain territory.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and another teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was the team framing the match with multiple strong periods.

The player's first two scores occurred in the first 11 moments while other teammates registered in the final exchanges after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

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

"How we managed various elements during the game, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn multiple match contest on opposition territory.

The coach's team will need to reach a higher standard to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the right path after an disappointing start to their fall campaign.