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Following their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to improve their performance.

The team listened right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's finest performance of the season.

Making his first international appearance at full-back, the player scored a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a fairly challenging run with injuries honestly," the athlete commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this feels like home.

"Any time I get to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not receive that privilege again.

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

Manager stated: 'Excellent players don't need justifications'

After 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with several teammates injured.

In his case, it was essentially a case of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

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

Having returned recently, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the former provincial player gave his manager a positive selection headache for upcoming games.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You better play well in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to the player's choice to sport different footwear.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but it seems Mack just made that personally regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the game, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's got a great approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

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

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," commented the ex- international manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout Australian performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the right approach and that was placing the ball back on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was securing the possessions returned, and other players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and another player did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's first two tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while additional players registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

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

"How we handled various elements throughout the game, especially the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across most of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on rival territory.

The coach's team will need to attain another level to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.