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Following last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Ireland team to improve their performance.

The team listened right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's best performance this year.

In his debut international start at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've had a fairly difficult period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

"Whenever I have to play 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 do what I could do."

Manager stated: 'Good players don't need excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the flank, the player was given the number 15 role for the initial time with several teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a matter of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury ended his dream of joining the Test team.

After returned last month, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those two colored boots!'," commented the coach, referring to the player's decision to wear different boots.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his preparation and thus that's why he slotted right back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

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

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the standout opposition player on the field. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong fit at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that more often.

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

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

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned effectively and different player did not look out of place in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two impressive spells.

The player's initial couple of tries came in the first eleven moments while other teammates registered in the final stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home team finished on a positive note.

"I thought we really performed freely and attacked the match straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we handled various aspects throughout the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's tied two-Test series on rival soil.

The coach's side will need to reach a higher standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.