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After last week's underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Ireland team to improve their game.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, against Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's finest display this year.

In his first international start at the number 15 position, the player registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult run with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's considerable talk about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this feels like family.

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

"My entire approach this week was to take the field and perform what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with several players unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he finished during the warmer months.

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

Having returned last month, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former club player gave his manager a positive team headache for future matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better play well in those different colored shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to the player's decision to sport different boots.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent players don't need excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's got a great approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

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

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," commented the ex- national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best Australian player on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong fit at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's better in position for that frequently.

"The player's high ball work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was placing the ball again on them to gain territory.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and different player did not appear out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was the team framing the game with two impressive spells.

Hansen's first couple of tries occurred in the opening 11 moments while other teammates scored in the final stages after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and attacked the match right from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we handled numerous elements throughout the match, especially the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal decider to last year's drawn multiple match series on rival soil.

The coach's side will need to attain a higher standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.