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After their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland team to step up their performance.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 triumph that marked the team's finest display this year.

In his debut international appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, competed brilliantly for high balls and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this feels like home.

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

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

Manager stated: 'Good athletes don't need justifications'

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

For him, it was essentially a case of picking up where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his dream of making the Test team.

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

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the former club player gave his coach a positive selection headache for upcoming games.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those different colored boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just did that himself regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's has a great attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

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

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," commented the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the standout Australian performer on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong option at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in position for that frequently.

"His aerial play was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct thing and that was putting the ball back on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and different teammate did not look uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was the team framing the game with multiple impressive periods.

Hansen's first couple of scores occurred in the opening eleven moments while other players registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and approached the game right from the word go," stated Farrell.

"The way we handled numerous elements throughout the game, especially them responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with most of our strategy in that second half was truly satisfying."

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

The coach's team will need to reach another level to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.