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After their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to step up their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that marked Ireland's best performance this year.

In his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, competed excellently for high balls and performed exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've had a fairly difficult run with injuries really," Hansen commented.

"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 love this team and this feels like home.

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

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

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

After 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury ended his aspiration of joining the international squad.

After returned recently, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

The coach had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You need to play well in those two colored shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just did that personally regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

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

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also received commendation from the rival coach, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge was evident to the fore," said the ex- international coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best Australian performer on the pitch. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a good option at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"His aerial play was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was putting the ball back on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and different teammate did not look out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's first couple of scores occurred in the first eleven moments while additional players registered in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team finished on a high.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the game straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"How we managed various aspects throughout the match, particularly them coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal decider to the previous season's drawn two-Test series on rival territory.

The coach's side will require to attain a higher standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.