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After their previous underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland squad to improve their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and required considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's best performance of the season.

In his first international start at full-back, the player scored a three tries, contested brilliantly for high balls and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

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

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

"Any time I have to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not receive that privilege again.

"My whole approach this period was to go out and do what I can do."

Coach stated: 'Excellent players don't need excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the flank, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury disrupted his dream of joining the international squad.

After come back last month, he suffered a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

The coach had indicated that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for future games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those different coloured boots!'," said the coach, referring to the player's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, '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, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's got a excellent approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's efforts also received commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," said the ex- international manager.

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

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"His aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the right thing and that was putting the ball again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the game with multiple impressive periods.

The player's initial couple of scores came in the first 11 minutes while additional teammates registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the Irish team finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and approached the match straight from the beginning," stated the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects throughout the match, particularly them coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being across most of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition territory.

Farrell's side will need to attain another standard to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.