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After last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to step up their performance.

Ireland responded immediately.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that marked the team's best performance this year.

Making his first international start at full-back, the player registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his origin.

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

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

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

"My entire approach this week was to go out and do what I could do."

Coach declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, the player was given the number 15 role for the first time with several players unavailable.

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

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

After returned recently, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former club player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for future games.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those different colored shoes!'," said the coach, referring to the player's choice to wear different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent players don't need excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's has a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted right into the team and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

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

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good option at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

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

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

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

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out operated smoothly and another teammate did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the game with two impressive spells.

Hansen's first two tries came in the first 11 moments while other teammates scored in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home side finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the game right from the beginning," stated the coach.

"The way we handled numerous elements during the match, especially the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display 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 pleasing."

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

The coach's side will need to reach another standard to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a important step in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their autumn campaign.