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After their previous disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Ireland team to step up their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

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

However, against Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's best display of the season.

Making his first international appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty difficult run with injuries really," the athlete commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's much discussion 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 have 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 go out and do what I could do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with multiple players unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury disrupted his aspiration of making the international squad.

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

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for future matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Hansen just made that himself regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the evening.

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

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was placing the possession again on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was securing the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for Farrell was Ireland bookending the game with multiple impressive spells.

The player's initial two tries occurred in the opening eleven moments while other teammates scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home side concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the game right from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we managed various elements throughout the game, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority 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 viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn two-Test series on rival territory.

The coach's team will require to reach another standard to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.