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Following last week's disappointing performance against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish team to step up their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

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

Making his debut test match start at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging run with fitness issues honestly," the athlete stated.

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

"Any time I have to play for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not get that privilege again.

"My entire approach this period was to take the field and do what I can do."

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

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the international team.

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

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the former club player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You better play well in those different colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, alluding to Hansen's decision to wear different footwear.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but it seems Mack 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 justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's has a great approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

The player's performance also received praise from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," said the ex- national coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the right approach and that was putting the ball back on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and different teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the game with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's first couple of scores came in the first 11 moments while other teammates scored in the closing stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a positive note.

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

"The way we handled numerous elements during the match, especially them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match contest on rival territory.

The coach's side will require to attain a higher level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the right direction after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.