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Following their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to step up their performance.

The team responded immediately.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's best performance of the season.

In his debut test match start at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty difficult run with fitness issues honestly," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like home.

"Any time I get to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you might not get that opportunity again.

"My entire approach this week was to take the field and do what I could do."

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

Following 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with several players injured.

For him, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in superb form before physical issues ended his dream of making the Test squad.

After returned last month, he developed a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not empty statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive selection headache for future games.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to play well in those different coloured shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Hansen just did that himself anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the game, 'Good athletes 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, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's has a great approach to get across his detail and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout opposition player" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his experience showed to the front," said the ex- national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables the player a strong fit at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was putting the possession back on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland bookending the match with multiple strong periods.

The player's initial couple of tries occurred in the opening eleven minutes while additional players registered in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the Irish side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the match right from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous aspects during the match, especially them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that second half was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on opposition soil.

Farrell's team will need to attain another level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall campaign.