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Following their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to step up their performance.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's finest performance of the season.

Making his first test match start at full-back, the player scored a three tries, contested brilliantly for high balls and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

"My entire approach this week was to go out and do what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Good athletes don't need excuses'

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

For him, it was essentially a case 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 joining the Test squad.

After returned recently, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive team headache for future games.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You need to play well in those different colored boots!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched boots.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but apparently Mack just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, 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 concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

The player's performance also earned praise from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the ex- national coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the best opposition player on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables Hansen a good fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"His aerial play was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was putting the possession again on them to secure field position.

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

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the match with multiple impressive periods.

Hansen's initial couple of tries came in the opening 11 minutes while additional players registered in the final stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the match straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"How we handled various aspects during the game, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that later period was truly satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test contest on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to attain another standard to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn schedule.