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Following their previous underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to improve their game.

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and taken most of the match to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's finest display this year.

Making his debut international start at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty difficult run with injuries honestly," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's considerable talk about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

"Whenever I get to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you may not receive that privilege again.

"My entire approach this period was to take the field and do what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Good players require no justifications'

Following 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with multiple teammates injured.

For him, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury ended his dream of joining the international squad.

Having returned last month, he developed a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially motivated and these proved not empty words as the former club player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better perform excellently in those different colored boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's choice to sport mismatched boots.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, 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 due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned commendation from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," said the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best opposition player on the field. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong option at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"The player's aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the correct approach and that was putting the ball back on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was getting the balls back, and other players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 position, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was Ireland bookending the match with two strong periods.

The player's first two tries came in the opening 11 minutes while other players scored in the final 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," said the coach.

"How we handled various aspects during the game, particularly them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an informal conclusion to last year's drawn multiple match series on opposition territory.

The coach's team will need to attain a higher standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.