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Following last week's disappointing performance against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland team to step up their game.

The team responded immediately.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and taken most of the match to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's finest performance this year.

Making his debut international start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with injuries really," the athlete stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

"Any time I get to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not get that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

After 28 caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

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

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 ruled him out for earlier matches.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for future matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those two colored boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to wear mismatched footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

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

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the front," commented the former international coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout Australian player on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what enables the player a good fit at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"His aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was placing the possession again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the possessions back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and another teammate did not look uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's initial couple of scores came in the first eleven moments while other players registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the game right from the word go," said the coach.

"How we managed various elements throughout the game, especially the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will require to reach another standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn schedule.