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Following last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to step up their game.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's best performance of the season.

In his debut international start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly challenging period with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

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

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

"My entire focus this week was to take the field and do what I could do."

Coach declared: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

Following 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with several players unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a matter of picking up where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury disrupted his dream of making the Test squad.

Having returned last month, he developed a foot problem that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty words as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those two coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to sport different boots.

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

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"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 back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also earned commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," commented the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the standout Australian performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the middle of the field is something that he does from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the right thing and that was placing the possession back on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was securing the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 position, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland bookending the match with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's initial two tries occurred in the opening 11 moments while additional players registered in the final stages after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and approached the game straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we managed various elements during the game, especially them coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an informal decider to last year's drawn multiple match series on rival soil.

The coach's team will require to reach another level to beat the consecutive title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.