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After last week's underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to step up their game.

The team listened immediately.

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

However, facing Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's finest display this year.

Making his first international start at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty difficult run with fitness issues really," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

"Any time I get to play for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

Manager stated: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury ended his dream of making the Test team.

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

The coach had suggested that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better play well in those different colored shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to the player's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

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

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience showed to the fore," said the ex- international coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the standout Australian player on the pitch. He's got a great ability and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what makes the player a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that more often.

"His aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the right thing and that was putting the ball 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 balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and another teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was Ireland framing the match with two impressive periods.

Hansen's first couple of tries occurred in the first eleven moments while additional players scored in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a high.

"I thought we really performed freely and attacked the game straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we managed various aspects during the game, especially the opposition coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

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

Farrell's side will require to reach another level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.