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Following last week's underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

Ireland listened immediately.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented Ireland's finest performance of the season.

Making his debut international start at full-back, the player registered a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult run with injuries really," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

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

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

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

After twenty-eight appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury ended his dream of joining the Test squad.

After come back recently, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

The coach had suggested that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You better perform well in those different coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's choice to sport different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just made that personally regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the rival coach, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the former international manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the best Australian performer on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong fit at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the field is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct thing and that was placing the ball again on them to gain territory.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and different player did not appear out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But perhaps more pleasing for Farrell was the team framing the game with multiple strong periods.

Hansen's first couple of scores came in the first 11 moments while other players registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home team finished on a high.

"I thought we really performed freely and attacked the match right from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we managed various elements during the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was truly satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on rival territory.

Farrell's side will need to attain another standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.