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Following their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish team to step up their performance.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a 46-19 triumph that represented Ireland's best display of the season.

Making his debut test match start at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's much discussion about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this feels like family.

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

"My entire focus this week was to take the field and perform what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

Following 28 appearances on the flank, Hansen was given the number 15 position for the first time with several players unavailable.

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

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

Having returned recently, he developed a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those different colored shoes!'," said the coach, referring to the player's choice to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but apparently Hansen just made that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"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 choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that type of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

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

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

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best opposition player on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes the player a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was putting the ball back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and another teammate did not look uncomfortable in his first start in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the match with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's initial couple of tries occurred in the opening 11 minutes while additional players registered in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and attacked the game right from the word go," said the coach.

"The way we managed various aspects throughout the match, especially the opposition coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across most of our strategy in that later period was truly pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn two-Test contest on opposition soil.

The coach's team will need to reach another level to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the right direction after an disappointing start to their autumn schedule.