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After last week's disappointing performance against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland team to improve their performance.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's best display of the season.

Making his first international appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, competed excellently for high balls and performed exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging run with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like home.

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

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

Manager declared: 'Good players require no justifications'

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

For him, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

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

After returned last month, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for future games.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those different colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, referring to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched boots.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but it seems Mack just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

Hansen's efforts also received commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," said the former international coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the standout opposition performer on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables the player a strong option at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"His aerial play was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of doing the right thing and that was placing the possession back on them to secure field position.

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

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the match with multiple strong spells.

The player's first two scores came in the first 11 moments while other players scored in the closing stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish team finished on a high.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and approached the game right from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we handled numerous elements throughout the game, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what could be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on rival soil.

Farrell's team will require to reach a higher level to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.