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Following their previous underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to step up their performance.

The team listened immediately.

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

However, against Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a 46-19 triumph that represented the team's best display this year.

Making his first test match start at full-back, the player scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult run with fitness issues honestly," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's much discussion about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this feels like home.

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

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

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

After 28 caps on the wing, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with multiple teammates unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test team.

Having returned recently, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

The coach had indicated that the player was especially determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a welcome selection headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to sport different boots.

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

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

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," said the former international manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout Australian performer on the field. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a good option at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was placing the ball back on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and other players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the match with multiple strong periods.

Hansen's initial two scores occurred in the first eleven moments while additional teammates scored in the final exchanges after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the home side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and approached the game straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we managed numerous aspects throughout the match, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's tied multiple match series on opposition territory.

Farrell's side will need to attain a higher level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall campaign.