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Following their previous underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to improve their game.

The team listened right away.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's best performance of the season.

In his first test match appearance at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've had a fairly challenging run with injuries really," the athlete commented.

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

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

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

Coach stated: 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications'

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with several teammates injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury disrupted his dream of joining the Test team.

After returned last month, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier matches.

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially motivated and these proved not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for future matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different colored shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's decision to wear mismatched boots.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight back in and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

The player's performance also earned commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout opposition player" on the night.

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

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the best opposition player on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what makes the player a good fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the right thing and that was placing the ball again on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was getting the balls returned, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

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

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the match with two impressive periods.

Hansen's initial couple of scores occurred in the opening 11 minutes while additional players scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team finished on a high.

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

"How we managed various elements throughout the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn multiple match contest on rival soil.

The coach's side will require to attain another standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important step in the right direction after an disappointing start to their autumn campaign.