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Following last week's underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to improve their game.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's best display this year.

Making his first test match appearance at full-back, the player scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with injuries really," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this feels like family.

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

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

After 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the first time with multiple teammates unavailable.

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

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

Having returned recently, he suffered a lower body problem that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his manager a positive team headache for upcoming games.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just did that personally anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

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

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the fore," said the ex- international coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the standout Australian performer on the field. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong option at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"His aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the right approach and that was placing the possession again on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the game with two impressive periods.

Hansen's initial two tries came in the opening eleven minutes while additional players registered in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home team finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and attacked the game right from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we handled various elements throughout the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our strategy in that later period was really satisfying."

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

The coach's team will require to attain another standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their autumn campaign.