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After their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Ireland team to improve their performance.

The team responded right away.

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

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

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

"Look, I've had a fairly challenging period with injuries honestly," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's much discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

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

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

Manager declared: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

Following 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was given the number 15 position for the first time with several teammates injured.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before physical issues disrupted his dream of joining the Test squad.

After come back last month, he developed a lower body problem that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not empty words as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome team headache for future matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to play well in those two coloured shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a great approach to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

The player's performance also earned praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the evening.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the best Australian player on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong option at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that frequently.

"His high ball work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was placing the ball again on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 position, the set piece and throw-in operated effectively and another teammate did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was the team framing the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's first two scores came in the opening 11 moments while other players scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home team finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and attacked the game straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects throughout the game, especially the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test contest on opposition soil.

The coach's team will require to attain a higher standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.