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After their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland team to step up their game.

The team listened right away.

Ireland had faded late against New Zealand and required considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's best performance of the season.

Making his first international appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've had a fairly challenging run with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this feels like home.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not get that opportunity again.

"My whole focus this week was to take the field and do what I can do."

Manager declared: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

Following 28 caps on the flank, the player was given the full-back role for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the international squad.

After returned recently, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was particularly motivated and these proved not empty statements as the former club player gave his coach a positive selection dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, referring to the player's decision to sport different boots.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his experience showed to the front," said the former international coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the standout Australian performer on the field. He's has a great ability and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a good fit at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's better in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was putting the possession back on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was getting the possessions returned, and additional players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and throw-in operated effectively and another teammate did not look uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with two strong periods.

The player's first couple of tries came in the opening eleven minutes while other players scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the match right from the word go," stated the coach.

"How we handled various aspects throughout the match, especially them responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was truly satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition territory.

The coach's side will require to reach a higher level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct path after an disappointing start to their fall campaign.