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After last week's underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to improve their performance.

The team responded immediately.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

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

Making his first international appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

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

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

"Any time I get to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you might not get that opportunity again.

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

Manager stated: 'Good players require no excuses'

Following 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was given the number 15 position for the first time with multiple players unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before physical issues disrupted his dream of making the international team.

After returned recently, he developed a lower body problem that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome team headache for future matches.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to play well in those two coloured shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to sport different boots.

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

"I said to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's got a excellent approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted straight back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "standout opposition performer" on the evening.

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

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the best opposition performer on the field. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"His aerial play was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the right approach and that was placing the possession again on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and another teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two strong periods.

The player's first two scores occurred in the opening 11 moments while other teammates registered in the final exchanges after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a high.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and attacked the match right from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we managed numerous aspects during the match, especially the opposition coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that later period was truly satisfying."

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

Farrell's side will need to reach another level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.