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

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's finest display this year.

In his first test match appearance at full-back, the player scored a three tries, competed excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult period with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this team, 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 family.

"Whenever I get to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not get that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the number 15 position for the initial time with several teammates unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury ended his aspiration of making the Test team.

Having returned recently, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not empty words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome team headache for upcoming games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better play excellently in those different colored boots!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's decision to wear different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Hansen just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of player, he prepares well, he's has a great approach to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the fore," said the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the standout Australian performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what enables the player a good option at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the correct thing and that was putting the ball again on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and different teammate did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for the manager was the team framing the game with multiple strong periods.

The player's first two scores occurred in the first 11 minutes while additional players registered in the final exchanges after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish side concluded 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 numerous elements during the game, especially the opposition responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across most of our strategy in that second half was truly satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal decider to last year's drawn two-Test series on rival soil.

The coach's team will require to reach another standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.