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After last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to step up their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's finest performance of the season.

In his debut international start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty challenging period with injuries really," Hansen stated.

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

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

"My whole approach this week was to go out and do what I could do."

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

Following twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted 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 form before injury ended his aspiration of joining the international squad.

Having come back last month, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those different colored shoes!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to wear different footwear.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's got a great attitude to understand his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also earned praise from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the former national coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout Australian performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a good option at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the correct thing and that was putting the possession again on them to secure field position.

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

Outside the star performer, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in operated effectively and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the game with two impressive periods.

The player's initial couple of tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while other players registered in the final stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish team finished on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the game straight from the beginning," stated the coach.

"How we managed numerous elements during the game, particularly them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being across most of our game in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied multiple match contest on rival soil.

The coach's side will require to attain a higher level to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the right direction after an disappointing start to their autumn schedule.