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

The team listened right away.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's finest performance this year.

In his debut international start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a three tries, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty difficult run with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's much discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this group and this seems like home.

"Whenever I get to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not get that privilege again.

"My entire focus this period was to take the field and perform what I could do."

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

After 28 appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with several teammates injured.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he finished during the warmer months.

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

Having come back recently, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not empty words as the former provincial player gave his manager a positive team headache for future matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those two colored shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to sport different boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"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 choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout opposition performer" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge was evident to the front," commented the former international coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the standout Australian performer on the field. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good contender."

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

"His high ball work was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was putting the possession again on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was securing the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and different player did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the match with two impressive periods.

The player's initial couple of tries occurred in the first eleven moments while other players registered in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home team finished on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the game straight from the beginning," said Farrell.

"How we handled various elements throughout the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test series on opposition territory.

The coach's side will need to attain another level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the right direction after an disappointing start to their fall campaign.