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After last week's disappointing performance against Japan, the head coach challenged his Ireland team to step up their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

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

However, facing the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's finest display of the season.

In his debut test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging run with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

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

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

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

Coach stated: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

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

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

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury ended his aspiration of making the international team.

After come back recently, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his manager a positive team dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better play well in those different colored boots!'," commented Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to wear mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just made that personally regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

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

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the fore," commented the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a good option at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the right approach and that was placing the ball back on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two strong spells.

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

"I thought we really let ourselves go and attacked the game right from the beginning," stated the coach.

"How we managed numerous elements during the game, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test contest on opposition territory.

The coach's team will need to attain a higher standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.