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After last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish squad to step up their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive triumph that represented the team's finest performance this year.

In his first test match start at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for high balls and performed exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly difficult period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

"Whenever I have to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you might not receive that opportunity again.

"My entire approach this period was to take the field and do what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Excellent athletes require no justifications'

Following 28 appearances on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with multiple teammates unavailable.

For him, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he finished during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the international team.

After come back last month, he developed a lower body problem that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for future games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to perform well in those two coloured shoes!'," commented Farrell, alluding to Hansen's decision to wear different boots.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains well, he's got a excellent approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

The player's efforts also earned praise from the rival manager, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," said the ex- national manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what enables Hansen a good option at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"His high ball play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the correct thing and that was putting the ball back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and other teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the scrum and throw-in functioned effectively and different teammate did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was the team framing the match with multiple impressive periods.

The player's initial two tries occurred in the opening 11 minutes while additional teammates scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home team finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the match right from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous aspects during the match, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with most of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's team will need to attain a higher level to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important step in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.