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Following their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland team to improve their performance.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's best display of the season.

In his debut test match start at full-back, the player scored a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's considerable talk about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like family.

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

"My whole approach this week was to take the field and perform what I can do."

Coach stated: 'Good players require no excuses'

After 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the international team.

After returned recently, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not empty words as the former club player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for future matches.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, alluding to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players require no justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also earned commendation from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," commented the former international coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best Australian performer on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables the player a good fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's better in position for that more often.

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

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and different player did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the game with multiple strong periods.

The player's initial two tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while additional players scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish team finished on a high.

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

"How we handled numerous elements during the game, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being across most of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn two-Test contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will require to attain a higher standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.