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After last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to step up their performance.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's best performance of the season.

Making his first international start at full-back, the player registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with injuries really," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like family.

"Any time I get to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you may not receive that privilege again.

"My whole approach this week was to take the field and do what I could do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes require no justifications'

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was given the full-back role for the initial time with multiple teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of picking up where he finished during the summer.

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

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

The coach had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not empty statements as the former club player gave his coach a welcome team headache for future matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different coloured boots!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's choice to sport different boots.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that personally anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to be himself due to that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the rival coach, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the ex- national manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the best Australian performer on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a strong fit at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"His high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the correct thing and that was placing the ball back on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the balls back, and other players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and different teammate did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with two impressive periods.

Hansen's initial two tries came in the first 11 moments while additional teammates registered in the final stages after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the beginning," stated the coach.

"How we handled various aspects throughout the game, particularly them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with most of our strategy in that later period was really satisfying."

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

The coach's side will need to attain a higher standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a important step in the right path after an uninspiring start to their autumn schedule.