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After their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to step up their performance.

Ireland listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's finest display this year.

In his first test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's considerable talk about me not exactly being born 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 privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that opportunity again.

"My entire focus this week was to take the field and do what I can do."

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

After twenty-eight appearances on the wing, the player was given the full-back role for the first time with multiple teammates injured.

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 form before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test team.

After come back last month, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for earlier matches.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not empty statements as the former club player gave his coach a positive selection headache for upcoming games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better play well in those two colored boots!'," said the coach, referring to the player's choice to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but apparently Mack just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares well, he's has a excellent approach to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

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

"In my view he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the ex- international manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the standout Australian performer on the pitch. He's has a great ability and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a strong option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he does from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the correct thing and that was putting the ball again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and other players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

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

But perhaps more pleasing for Farrell was the team bookending the game with two impressive periods.

Hansen's first couple of tries occurred in the first 11 moments while additional players scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and approached the match right from the word go," stated the coach.

"How we handled various elements during the match, especially them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game 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 conclusion to last year's tied multiple match series on rival territory.

Farrell's side will require to attain a higher level to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.