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Following their previous disappointing showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to improve their game.

The team listened immediately.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's finest performance this year.

Making his first international start at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, competed brilliantly for high balls and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a fairly difficult period with fitness issues honestly," the athlete stated.

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

"Any time I get to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

"My whole approach this week was to go out and do what I could do."

Coach stated: 'Good players require no justifications'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with several teammates injured.

For him, it was essentially a case of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before injury disrupted his dream of making the Test team.

Having returned recently, he developed a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly determined and these proved not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive team headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched boots.

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

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

The player's performance also earned commendation from the rival manager, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," commented the former national coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong option at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

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

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

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and another teammate did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for Farrell was the team framing the match with multiple strong spells.

The player's first couple of tries came in the first eleven minutes while additional teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the game straight from the beginning," stated the coach.

"How we handled various elements during the match, especially them coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match contest on rival soil.

Farrell's team will require to reach another level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their fall campaign.