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Following last week's underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to improve their performance.

The team listened right away.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's best display of the season.

In his debut test match appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with injuries really," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's much discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this seems like home.

"Any time I get to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach stated: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

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

For him, it was simply a matter of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before injury ended his aspiration of making the international squad.

Having come back recently, he developed a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

The coach had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not empty words as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for future games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better play well in those two coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's choice to wear different boots.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that personally regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes 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 agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's has a great attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout opposition performer" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," commented the former national manager.

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

Pressed about what enables the player a good option at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"His high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was putting the ball back on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and other players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two impressive spells.

The player's first couple of tries came in the opening eleven moments while other teammates registered in the final exchanges after the other team had crossed, ensuring the home side concluded on a high.

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

"The way we handled numerous aspects during the game, particularly them responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was truly satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an informal decider to last year's drawn two-Test contest on rival soil.

Farrell's side will need to reach a higher level to beat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their fall campaign.