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Following last week's underwhelming performance against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland squad to step up their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that marked Ireland's finest performance of the season.

In his debut test match start at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with injuries really," the athlete commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this seems like family.

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

"My entire focus this period was to go out and do what I can do."

Coach stated: 'Good players require no excuses'

After 28 caps on the flank, the player was given the full-back role for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before injury ended his aspiration of making the Test team.

Having come back last month, he developed a lower body problem that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially motivated and these proved not empty statements as the former club player gave his coach a positive selection dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those different colored boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the game, '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 want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's got a excellent approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

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

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best Australian performer on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

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

"His high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was putting the ball again on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and different teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was the team bookending the match with two strong spells.

The player's initial couple of scores occurred in the opening eleven minutes while other teammates registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home team concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and approached the match right from the beginning," stated the coach.

"How we managed various elements throughout the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being across most of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will need to attain another level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.