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After last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to improve their game.

Ireland responded right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, against Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's best performance this year.

Making his first test match start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

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

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

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

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

Manager stated: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple players injured.

In his case, it was simply a matter of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

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

Having come back last month, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

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

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those two colored shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to the player's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but it seems Hansen just made that personally anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's got a excellent approach to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the fore," said the former national coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a good fit at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"His high ball work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the correct thing and that was placing the possession again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions back, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and different teammate did not look out of place in his first start in the front row.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was the team framing the match with two strong spells.

Hansen's initial two tries came in the first 11 moments while other teammates registered in the final stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the match right from the beginning," stated the coach.

"How we managed various aspects throughout the game, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal decider to the previous season's tied multiple match contest on rival territory.

Farrell's side will require to reach a higher standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the right path after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.