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After their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to improve their performance.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's finest performance this year.

In his debut international appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a fairly challenging run with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's considerable talk about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this feels like home.

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

Following 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple teammates unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before physical issues ended his dream of making the international team.

Having come back recently, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these proved not empty words as the ex- club player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for future matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those different colored shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's choice to wear different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to understand his preparation and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best Australian player on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what enables the player a good option at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's better in position for that frequently.

"His aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the right thing and that was putting the ball back on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and other players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the game with two strong spells.

The player's initial two tries came in the first eleven moments while additional teammates scored in the closing stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a high.

"I thought we really performed freely and approached the game straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"How we handled various elements throughout the match, especially the opposition coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on rival soil.

Farrell's side will require to reach another level to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.