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

The team responded right away.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's finest performance this year.

Making his debut international appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've had a pretty challenging period with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this seems like home.

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

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

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes require no justifications'

Following 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with several teammates injured.

For him, it was simply a matter of picking up where he finished during the summer.

The experienced player had been in superb condition before injury disrupted his dream of joining the Test team.

Having come back recently, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially determined and these proved not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive team headache for future games.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You need to play well in those two coloured shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to sport different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good players require no excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's has a great approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also received praise from the rival manager, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," said the ex- national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the standout Australian player on the pitch. He's got a great ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes the player a good option at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"His aerial play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the right thing and that was putting the ball back on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the possessions back, and other teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and different teammate did not look out of place in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the game with two strong spells.

The player's initial two scores came in the opening eleven minutes while additional teammates registered in the final stages after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home team concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the match right from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we handled various elements during the game, particularly them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on rival territory.

The coach's side will need to attain a higher standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.