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Following their previous underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to step up their performance.

The team responded immediately.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented the team's best display of the season.

Making his debut international start at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with injuries really," Hansen stated.

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

"Whenever I get to play for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you might not get that opportunity again.

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

Manager declared: 'Good players don't need justifications'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back role for the first time with multiple teammates injured.

In his case, it was essentially a case of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before injury disrupted his dream of joining the Test team.

Having come back recently, he suffered a lower body problem that ruled him out for earlier matches.

The coach had indicated that the player was especially determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome team headache for upcoming games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to play excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to sport different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but it seems Mack just did that himself anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Good players don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great approach to get across his detail and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the ex- national coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best Australian player on the pitch. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a good fit at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's better in position for that more often.

"The player's aerial play was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the right approach and that was putting the possession again on them to secure field position.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and different player did not look uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two impressive spells.

Hansen's first two tries occurred in the opening eleven moments while additional players scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the game right from the beginning," stated the coach.

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

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

The coach's side will need to attain a higher level to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important step in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn schedule.