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After last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish squad to step up their game.

The team responded immediately.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that marked the team's best performance this year.

Making his first international appearance at the number 15 position, the player registered a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging period with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like home.

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you may not receive that opportunity again.

"My entire focus this period was to take the field and do what I can do."

Coach declared: 'Excellent players don't need excuses'

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, 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 picking up where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before injury ended his dream of joining the Test squad.

After returned last month, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

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

"So my first reaction were, 'You better play excellently in those different colored shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to the player's decision to sport different footwear.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's got a excellent attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's performance also earned praise from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the front," commented the ex- national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best opposition player on the pitch. He's has a great ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a good fit at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he does from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's better in position for that frequently.

"His aerial work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was placing the ball again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the possessions returned, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and another teammate did not look out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was the team framing the match with multiple impressive periods.

Hansen's initial couple of tries occurred in the opening 11 minutes while other teammates registered in the closing exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the match right from the word go," said the coach.

"The way we managed various elements throughout the match, especially them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test series on rival soil.

The coach's side will need to reach a higher standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a important step in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.