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Following last week's underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to improve their game.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and taken most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's best performance of the season.

In his debut test match start at full-back, the player registered a three tries, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty difficult run with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

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

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

"My entire focus this week was to go out and perform what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent players don't need justifications'

Following twenty-eight caps on the wing, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with multiple players injured.

For him, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before physical issues disrupted his dream of joining the Test team.

Having returned last month, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

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

"So my initial reaction were, 'You better play well in those two colored boots!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that type of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

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

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the front," commented the former national coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the standout Australian player on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good option at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

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

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

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and another teammate did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the match with two strong spells.

Hansen's first couple of tries occurred in the opening 11 minutes while additional players registered in the closing exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and attacked the match straight from the word go," said the coach.

"The way we handled various elements throughout the game, especially them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that second half was really pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test series on rival soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach a higher level to defeat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.