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Following their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to improve their game.

Ireland listened right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 triumph that represented Ireland's best display this year.

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, the player registered a hat-trick, contested excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's much discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this feels like home.

"Whenever I have to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Coach stated: 'Excellent athletes require no justifications'

Following twenty-eight caps on the wing, the player was given the full-back position for the initial time with several players unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in superb condition before injury ended his dream of making the international team.

Having come back recently, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not empty words as the former club player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You need to play excellently in those two colored boots!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to wear different boots.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best Australian player on the pitch. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong option at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of doing the right thing and that was putting the possession again on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was getting the possessions back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and different teammate did not look out of place in his first appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the game with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's initial couple of tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while additional players scored in the closing stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the home side finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the game right from the beginning," stated the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects throughout the match, particularly them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an informal decider to last year's tied multiple match series on rival soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach a higher standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.