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After their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish team to step up their game.

Ireland responded right away.

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

However, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's best display this year.

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

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

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's considerable talk about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

"Whenever I get to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the first time with several players injured.

In his case, it was essentially a case of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in excellent form before physical issues ended his dream of joining the international team.

Having come back last month, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome team headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those two colored shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to wear different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that type of player, he trains well, he's has a great approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," said the former international coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the best Australian performer on the field. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables 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 anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"His high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of doing 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 because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly most satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the game with two strong spells.

Hansen's first two tries occurred in the opening eleven minutes while additional players scored in the final stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish team finished on a high.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and attacked the match right from the beginning," said the coach.

"How we handled various elements during the match, especially them coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving 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 second half was really pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on opposition soil.

The coach's side will need to attain a higher standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their fall campaign.