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After last week's underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland team to step up their game.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that marked Ireland's best display this year.

In his first test match start at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult run with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable talk about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

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

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

Manager stated: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the flank, the player was given the full-back role for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the international team.

Having come back recently, he suffered a foot problem 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 former club player gave his coach a welcome team headache for future games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to sport different footwear.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but it seems Hansen just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the former international coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a good option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"His aerial play was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was placing the ball again on them to gain field position.

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

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and another teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the match with multiple impressive spells.

The player's initial couple of tries occurred in the opening eleven minutes while other teammates registered in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish side finished on a positive note.

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

"The way we managed various elements throughout the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being across most of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on rival soil.

Farrell's team will require to reach a higher level to beat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.