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After their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

Ireland responded immediately.

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

Nevertheless, against Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's best performance of the season.

Making his first international start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty difficult period with injuries really," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this feels like family.

"Whenever I have to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you may not receive that opportunity again.

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

Manager declared: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

After 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

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

After returned recently, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome team headache for upcoming matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better play well in those different coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to sport different footwear.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players require no justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's has a excellent approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the rival manager, who stated he was the "standout opposition player" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his experience showed to the front," said the ex- national manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the best opposition player on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a strong option at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's better in position for that frequently.

"His high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the right thing and that was putting the possession back on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and another player did not look uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's first two tries came in the opening eleven minutes while other players scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the match straight from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we managed various aspects during the game, particularly them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to last year's tied two-Test series on rival soil.

The coach's side will need to reach a higher level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.