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

The team listened right away.

Ireland had faded late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 triumph that marked the team's finest performance of the season.

In his debut international start at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I understand 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 family.

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

"My entire approach this week was to go out and do what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with several players injured.

For him, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in superb condition before injury ended his dream of making the international team.

Having come back last month, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty statements as the former club player gave his manager a welcome team headache for future games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's decision to wear mismatched footwear.

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

"I said to him before the game, 'Good players require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains well, he's got a excellent approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the fore," said the ex- national coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout Australian performer on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a strong fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that more often.

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

"The reason that was the right thing to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was the team framing the game with two impressive spells.

Hansen's first two scores occurred in the opening eleven moments while other teammates scored in the final stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a high.

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

"The way we handled numerous elements during the game, especially them coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that later period was truly satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what might be viewed as an unofficial decider to last year's tied multiple match series on rival territory.

The coach's team will need to reach another standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the right path after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.