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Following last week's underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Irish team to improve their performance.

The team responded immediately.

Ireland had faded late against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that marked the team's finest performance of the season.

In his first international appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've had a fairly challenging run with injuries really," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's considerable talk about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

"Whenever I have to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Manager stated: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

After 28 appearances on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with multiple players injured.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury disrupted his aspiration of making the Test team.

After come back last month, he developed a lower body problem that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty words as the former club player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for future games.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those two colored boots!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to wear mismatched boots.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

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

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's got a great approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was able to be himself due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the ex- international coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what enables the player a good fit at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"His aerial play was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of doing the right thing and that was putting the possession again on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

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

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two impressive spells.

Hansen's initial two tries came in the opening 11 minutes while other teammates registered in the final stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the match right from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous aspects during the game, especially the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across most of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an informal decider to last year's drawn two-Test contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will require to reach another level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn schedule.