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

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's best performance this year.

In his first international start at full-back, the player registered a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty difficult run with injuries honestly," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this feels like family.

"Any time I get to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

Manager stated: 'Excellent players don't need justifications'

After 28 caps on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the first time with multiple teammates injured.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he left off during the summer.

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

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

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for future games.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You need to play well in those two colored boots!'," said the coach, referring to the player's choice to sport different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes require no justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's got a great approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's efforts also earned commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," said the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best Australian player on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that more often.

"His high ball work was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was placing the possession again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and another teammate did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the game with two strong spells.

The player's first couple of tries came in the first 11 moments while other players registered in the final stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side finished on a high.

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

"The way we managed various elements during the match, particularly them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with most of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what might be viewed as an informal decider to last year's tied two-Test contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's team will require to attain another standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct path after an disappointing start to their autumn schedule.