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Following their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish squad to step up their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

The Irish side had struggled late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's finest display of the season.

Making his first test match appearance at full-back, the player registered a three tries, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a fairly difficult period with injuries really," the athlete commented.

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

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not get that privilege again.

"My entire approach this week was to go out and do what I can do."

Coach declared: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the wing, the player was given the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

For him, it was simply a matter of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues disrupted his dream of joining the international team.

After returned recently, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier matches.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was particularly motivated and these proved not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those different coloured boots!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear different boots.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's has a great approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned commendation from the rival coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best Australian player on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong fit at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's better in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of executing the right approach and that was placing the ball again on them to gain field position.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and another player did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was the team bookending the game with two strong periods.

Hansen's first two tries occurred in the first eleven moments while other teammates registered in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the home side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the game right from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we managed numerous elements during the match, especially them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal decider to last year's tied multiple match contest on opposition territory.

The coach's side will need to attain another standard to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.