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After last week's disappointing showing against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland team to improve their performance.

The team listened immediately.

Ireland had faded late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

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

Making his first international start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, competed brilliantly for high balls and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly difficult period with injuries really," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like family.

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you might not receive that opportunity again.

"My entire focus this period was to take the field and do what I could do."

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

Following twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back role for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

For him, it was essentially a case of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his dream of joining the international team.

After returned last month, he developed a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive team headache for upcoming games.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two coloured boots!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to wear mismatched footwear.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

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

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition performer on the field. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables Hansen 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 flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"His aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the right approach and that was placing the ball again on them to secure field position.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated effectively and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two strong spells.

The player's first two tries came in the opening eleven moments while other teammates registered in the final stages after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and attacked the match right from the word go," said the coach.

"The way we managed various elements during the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied multiple match contest on rival territory.

The coach's team will need to reach another standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.