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Following their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland team to improve their performance.

The team responded immediately.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing Australia, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's finest performance this year.

In his first test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging run with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this feels like family.

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

"My entire focus this period was to go out and perform what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with multiple teammates unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a case of picking up where he finished during the summer.

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

After come back recently, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive selection headache for future games.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You better play excellently in those different colored boots!'," commented Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to sport mismatched boots.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win 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 got a great attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the front," said the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the standout Australian performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a strong contender."

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

"The player's high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the correct thing and that was placing the ball back on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was getting the balls back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and another teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with multiple impressive spells.

The player's first couple of tries occurred in the opening eleven moments while other teammates scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the match right from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we handled numerous aspects throughout the match, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was truly satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's tied two-Test contest on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to reach another standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.