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

The team listened immediately.

Ireland had faded late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive triumph that represented the team's finest display this year.

Making his debut international start at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty difficult period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this seems like family.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Coach stated: 'Good players don't need justifications'

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was given the full-back role for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a matter of picking up where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before physical issues ended his aspiration of joining the international squad.

After returned last month, he suffered a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially motivated and these proved not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for future matches.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You better play well in those different colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

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

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his detail and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's efforts also received commendation from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the ex- international manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a good fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the right thing and that was placing the ball back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the possessions returned, and other teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps most pleasing for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's first two tries came in the opening 11 moments while other players scored in the closing exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the match right from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we handled numerous elements throughout the match, especially them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's tied multiple match series on rival territory.

The coach's team will require to attain a higher standard to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.