Hansen produces stellar display as Irish squad respond to Farrell's demand
After last week's underwhelming performance against Japan, the head coach challenged his Ireland squad to improve their performance.
The team responded right away.
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 began strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's best performance of the season.
Making his first test match start at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.
"You know, I've had a pretty difficult period with fitness issues honestly," the athlete commented.
"I missed being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this feels like home.
"Any time I have to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not get that opportunity again.
"My entire focus this period was to go out and do what I could do."
Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'
After twenty-eight appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.
In his case, it was essentially a case of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.
The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues disrupted his dream of joining the Test squad.
Having returned recently, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.
The coach had suggested that the player was especially motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive selection headache for future games.
"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those two colored boots!'," said the coach, alluding to the player's choice to wear different boots.
"In fact I thought that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.
"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'
"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's got a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was able to be himself due to that."
Hansen's efforts also earned commendation from the rival coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the evening.
"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the front," commented the ex- national manager.
"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout opposition player on the field. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."
Pressed about what enables the player a strong option at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.
"The player's aerial work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was placing the possession again on them to gain field position.
"Why that was the right strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."
Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.
Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.
But possibly more pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the game with multiple impressive spells.
The player's initial couple of scores occurred in the opening eleven moments while other players scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a positive note.
"I thought we really performed freely and attacked the match straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.
"The way we handled numerous aspects throughout 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 across the majority of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."
The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's drawn multiple match series on rival territory.
The coach's side will require to reach another standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a important step in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall campaign.