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After their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to improve their performance.

Ireland responded immediately.

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

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

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult run with injuries really," Hansen stated.

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

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

"My entire focus this week was to go out and perform what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Excellent players don't need justifications'

Following twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with several players unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent form before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of making the Test team.

Having returned last month, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those two coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to sport different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's got a great approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

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

"In my view he was super, his knowledge was evident to the front," commented the ex- international manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best opposition player on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a good fit at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"His aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the correct thing and that was placing the possession back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the balls back, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was the team framing the match with two impressive spells.

The player's initial couple of scores occurred in the first 11 minutes while additional teammates registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and attacked the game right from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we managed numerous elements throughout the match, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal decider to last year's tied multiple match series on rival soil.

Farrell's team will require to reach a higher level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important step in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.