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After last week's disappointing showing against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to improve their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and taken most of the match to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's finest performance of the season.

Making his debut international appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've had a fairly challenging run with injuries honestly," the athlete stated.

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

"Any time I get to play for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not get that opportunity again.

"My whole focus this period was to go out and perform what I could do."

Manager stated: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

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

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

The experienced player had been in superb form before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of making the international squad.

After returned last month, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to perform well in those two coloured boots!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's choice to sport mismatched footwear.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that personally anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good players don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, 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 trains well, he's got a great attitude to understand his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also earned commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," said the ex- national manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the best Australian performer on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's high ball work was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of doing the correct approach and that was placing the possession back on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and different player did not look out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was the team framing the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's first couple of scores came in the opening 11 minutes while additional teammates registered in the closing exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a high.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and attacked the game right from the word go," said Farrell.

"How we managed numerous aspects during the match, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I believed 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 next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on opposition soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach another standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a important step in the right path after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.