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After their previous disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to improve their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's finest display this year.

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

"You know, I've had a fairly challenging period with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's much discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this seems like home.

"Whenever I have to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you may not get that opportunity again.

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

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

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted 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 experienced player had been in excellent form before injury ended his dream of joining the international squad.

After returned last month, he developed a lower body injury that ruled him out for earlier matches.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the former club player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those two coloured boots!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

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

"I told to him before the match, 'Good players require no justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's has a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's performance also earned commendation from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

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

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the standout Australian player on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the correct thing and that was putting the ball back on them to secure territory.

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

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and another teammate did not appear out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But perhaps more pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two strong spells.

Hansen's first couple of tries came in the first 11 moments while other players scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the Irish team finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the match straight from the word go," stated Farrell.

"The way we handled numerous aspects throughout the match, particularly them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with most of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

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

Farrell's team will need to attain another standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.