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Following their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Irish squad to improve their game.

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's finest display this year.

Making his first international appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult run with injuries really," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this feels like home.

"Whenever I get to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not receive that privilege again.

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

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

Following twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back position for the first time with several teammates injured.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before injury disrupted his aspiration of making the Test squad.

Having come back last month, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

The coach had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these proved not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome selection dilemma for future games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better perform excellently in those two coloured boots!'," said the coach, alluding to the player's choice to wear different footwear.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but apparently Hansen just made that himself regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good players require no excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of player, he prepares well, he's has a great approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the night.

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

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the best Australian player on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what enables the player a good fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"His aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the right thing and that was placing the possession again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the possessions returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and throw-in operated effectively and different player did not look out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the match with two strong spells.

The player's initial two tries came in the opening 11 minutes while additional players scored in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the home team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we really performed freely and attacked the match straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we managed various aspects during the match, particularly them responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test series on rival territory.

Farrell's side will need to reach a higher level to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.