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Following last week's underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to improve their game.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, against Australia, they began strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's finest display of the season.

In his first test match appearance at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty challenging run with fitness issues really," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this feels like home.

"Any time I get to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not receive that opportunity again.

"My entire focus this period was to go out and do what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was given the number 15 position for the first time with several players unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a case of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury disrupted his aspiration of making the Test squad.

After come back recently, he developed a lower body problem that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for upcoming matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform excellently in those different coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched boots.

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

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's has a great approach to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

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

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the front," said the ex- national coach.

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

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good 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 suppose he's better in place for that frequently.

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

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

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

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and different teammate did not look out of place in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was the team framing the game with two strong periods.

Hansen's initial two scores came in the first 11 moments while other players scored in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we really performed freely and attacked the game straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"How we handled various elements during the match, especially them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that later period was truly satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's tied two-Test contest on opposition territory.

Farrell's team will require to reach another standard to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.