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Following their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland squad to improve their performance.

Ireland listened immediately.

Ireland had struggled late against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's best performance of the season.

In his debut test match start at full-back, the player registered a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty challenging run with fitness issues honestly," Hansen commented.

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

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

"My whole focus this week was to go out and do what I could do."

Coach stated: 'Good players require no excuses'

Following twenty-eight caps on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with several players injured.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues ended his aspiration of making the international squad.

After returned recently, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not hollow words as the former club player gave his coach a positive selection headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two colored shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to the player's choice to sport different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but it seems Mack just made that personally regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's has a excellent approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

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

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the best Australian player on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"His high ball work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was placing the possession again on them to secure territory.

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

Outside Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated effectively and another teammate did not look out of place in his first start in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two strong periods.

Hansen's first couple of tries occurred in the opening 11 minutes while other players registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we handled numerous elements during the game, particularly them responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match contest on opposition territory.

The coach's side will need to reach another level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their fall campaign.