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Following last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland team to step up their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a 46-19 triumph that marked Ireland's best display of the season.

Making his debut international appearance at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging period with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

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

"Any time I get to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not get that opportunity again.

"My entire approach this period was to take the field and do what I can do."

Coach stated: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

Following 28 caps on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with several players 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 superb form before physical issues disrupted his dream of joining the Test squad.

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

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the former club player gave his manager a positive team headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different coloured boots!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched footwear.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just did that himself anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

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

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's performance also earned praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," said the ex- international 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 strong fit at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"His high ball play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was putting the ball again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and another teammate did not look out of place in his first appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the game with multiple impressive periods.

Hansen's initial couple of scores came in the opening eleven minutes while additional teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the match right from the word go," said the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects throughout the game, particularly the opposition responding 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 familiar with most of our game in that second half was truly satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match contest on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to attain a higher standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a important step in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their fall campaign.