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After last week's disappointing showing against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to step up their game.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented the team's best display of the season.

Making his debut international appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, competed excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult run with injuries really," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's much discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this feels like home.

"Any time I get to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not get that opportunity again.

"My whole approach this period was to take the field and do what I could do."

Coach stated: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

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

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

The experienced player had been in superb condition before injury disrupted his dream of making the Test squad.

After returned recently, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome selection headache for future matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those different coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to wear mismatched footwear.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that himself anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted straight back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the front," said the former national manager.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"His high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was placing the ball again on them to gain field position.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the match with two strong periods.

The player's first two scores came in the opening 11 moments while additional teammates registered in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and approached the game right from the word go," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed various elements during the match, especially them responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across most of our strategy in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an informal conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test series on rival territory.

Farrell's side will require to attain another standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.