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

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's best performance of the season.

Making his first international appearance at full-back, the player scored a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly challenging period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's much discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this feels like family.

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

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

After 28 appearances on the flank, the player was given the number 15 role for the first time with several players unavailable.

For him, it was simply a matter of picking up where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of making the international team.

After come back last month, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for future games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better perform excellently in those different colored boots!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched boots.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players don't need excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's efforts also earned commendation from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge was evident to the fore," said the ex- national manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a strong fit at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was placing the ball back on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and another teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the match with two impressive spells.

The player's first couple of tries came in the first eleven 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 let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"How we managed numerous aspects throughout the game, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the second half, 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 two-Test series on rival soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach a higher standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn schedule.