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

Ireland listened immediately.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

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

In his first international appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

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

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this seems like home.

"Any time I get to play for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not get that privilege again.

"My entire approach this period was to go out and do what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

Following twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with multiple teammates injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his dream of joining the international squad.

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

The coach had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better play well in those two colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's choice to sport different footwear.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just made that himself anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Good players don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's got a excellent attitude to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "standout opposition performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge was evident to the front," said the former national manager.

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

When asked about what makes the player a good fit at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's better in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the correct thing and that was placing the possession again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was getting the balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and another player did not look uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with two strong periods.

The player's first couple of scores occurred in the first 11 moments while additional teammates scored in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

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

"How we handled various aspects during the match, particularly them responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on rival territory.

The coach's side will require to reach another level to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their fall campaign.