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Following their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Ireland team to improve their performance.

The team listened immediately.

Ireland had faded late against New Zealand and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's best performance this year.

In his first test match appearance at full-back, the player scored a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult run with fitness issues honestly," the athlete commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's considerable talk about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this feels like family.

"Any time I have to play for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you may not receive that privilege again.

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

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses'

After 28 appearances on the flank, the player was given the number 15 position for the first time with several teammates injured.

In his case, it was simply a matter of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb condition before physical issues ended his dream of joining the Test team.

Having come back last month, he suffered a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially motivated and these proved not hollow words as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for future games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better perform well in those different colored shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to sport different boots.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's has a great approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's efforts also earned commendation from the rival manager, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the ex- international coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best Australian player on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we persisted of executing the right thing and that was placing the ball back on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the game with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's initial couple of tries came in the first 11 minutes while other teammates registered in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home side finished on a high.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the game right from the beginning," said Farrell.

"How we managed various aspects during the game, especially the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn two-Test series on opposition territory.

The coach's team will require to reach another standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.