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Following their previous disappointing showing against Japan, the head coach told his Irish squad to step up their performance.

Ireland responded immediately.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's finest display this year.

In his debut international start at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty difficult run with injuries honestly," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

"Any time I have to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you may not get that privilege again.

"My entire approach this period was to go out and do what I can do."

Manager declared: 'Good players require no excuses'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple players injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test squad.

Having come back last month, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not hollow words as the former club player gave his coach a welcome selection dilemma for future games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those two colored boots!'," commented Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to sport mismatched boots.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but it seems Mack just made that himself regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good players require no justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of player, he trains well, he's got a excellent approach to understand his detail and so that's why he slotted right into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

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

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," said the ex- international coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the standout opposition player on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what enables the player a strong fit at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"His aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the correct thing and that was placing the ball back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was getting the possessions back, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and different teammate did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the match with two strong spells.

The player's first two scores occurred in the opening eleven minutes while other teammates registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the Irish side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we really performed freely and attacked the game right from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we handled various elements throughout the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what could be considered as an informal decider to last year's tied two-Test series on opposition territory.

Farrell's side will require to attain another standard to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.