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Following their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish team to step up their performance.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's finest display of the season.

Making his first test match start at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

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

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

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

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

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

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

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

Having returned last month, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not empty statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those two colored shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear different boots.

"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 match, '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 choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the rival coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his experience showed to the fore," commented the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best opposition player on the field. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a good option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the right thing and that was placing the possession back on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned effectively and different player did not appear out of place in his first start in the front row.

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's first couple of scores occurred in the first eleven moments while other players scored in the final stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the home team finished on a high.

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

"How we managed numerous aspects during the game, especially the opposition coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that second half was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal decider to last year's tied multiple match contest on opposition soil.

The coach's team will need to reach another level to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct path after an disappointing start to their autumn campaign.