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After their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

Ireland listened immediately.

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

However, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented Ireland's best display this year.

Making his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this group and this seems like home.

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not get that opportunity again.

"My whole focus this week was to go out and perform what I can do."

Coach declared: 'Good athletes don't need excuses'

After 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with multiple teammates unavailable.

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

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

After come back recently, he developed a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

The coach had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not empty statements as the former club player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You need to play well in those different coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's decision to sport different boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's has a great attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted right back in and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

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

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the former international manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the standout Australian performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the right thing and that was putting the ball back on them to gain territory.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned effectively and different teammate did not look out of place in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the game with multiple strong spells.

The player's initial couple of tries came in the first eleven minutes while additional players scored in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side finished on a high.

"I thought we really performed freely and approached the game straight from the word go," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed various aspects throughout the match, especially the opposition coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's tied multiple match contest on opposition territory.

The coach's team will need to reach another level to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right direction after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.