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Following last week's underwhelming performance against Japan, the head coach told his Irish squad to improve their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that represented Ireland's best performance of the season.

In his first test match appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult period with fitness issues honestly," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

"Whenever I get to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

Manager stated: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with several teammates injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before physical issues ended his dream of making the Test team.

Having returned last month, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for earlier matches.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these proved not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a welcome team headache for future matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those different colored shoes!'," said the coach, referring to the player's choice to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can get on with it 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 player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the former international manager.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the best opposition player on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong option at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he does from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the right approach and that was placing the possession back on them to gain territory.

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

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

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out operated effectively and different player did not look uncomfortable in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly more satisfying for the manager was the team framing the game with multiple impressive spells.

The player's initial couple of scores came in the first eleven moments while other players registered in the closing stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the home team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we really performed freely and attacked the match straight from the word go," stated Farrell.

"How we managed numerous aspects throughout the match, especially the opposition responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with most of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

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

The coach's team will need to attain another standard to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.