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

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented Ireland's finest performance this year.

In his first international appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've had a fairly difficult period with injuries really," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

"Any time I have 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 entire focus this week was to go out and do what I could do."

Coach declared: 'Good athletes don't need excuses'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with multiple teammates injured.

In his case, it was simply a case of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury disrupted his dream of making the Test team.

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

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for future games.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different coloured shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's choice to sport mismatched boots.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but it seems Mack just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's got a great attitude to understand his preparation and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned commendation from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition player on the field. He's has a great ability and he's such a good contender."

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

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was putting the ball back on them to secure territory.

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

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and different player did not appear out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for the manager was the team framing the game with two strong periods.

The player's initial couple of tries occurred in the first 11 minutes while other teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the match straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we handled numerous aspects throughout the match, particularly them responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what might be viewed as an informal decider to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on rival territory.

The coach's side will require to attain a higher level to beat the consecutive title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right direction after an disappointing start to their autumn schedule.