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Following their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Ireland team to step up their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

Ireland had faded late against New Zealand and required considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's best display of the season.

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a fairly difficult run with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like home.

"Whenever I have to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not receive that privilege again.

"My whole focus this week was to take the field and do what I could do."

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

After 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues ended his dream of making the Test squad.

Having come back last month, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier matches.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better play well in those different colored shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched boots.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but it seems Mack just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's has a great attitude to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also received praise from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the night.

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

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

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong option at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he does from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's better in position for that frequently.

"His aerial play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was placing the possession back on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and another teammate did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the game with two strong periods.

The player's initial two tries occurred in the opening eleven minutes while additional players scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

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

"How we managed numerous elements during the game, especially the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what might be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test series on opposition soil.

The coach's side will need to reach another standard to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.