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After their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Irish team to step up their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, against Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's finest performance this year.

In his debut test match start at full-back, the player scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've had a fairly challenging run with injuries really," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this seems like family.

"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 approach this period was to take the field and do what I can do."

Coach stated: 'Good athletes don't need excuses'

After 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with several players injured.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the international squad.

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

The coach had indicated that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the former club player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for upcoming games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You need to play well in those two coloured boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's choice to wear mismatched boots.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's got a excellent approach to understand his detail and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the rival manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," said the ex- international manager.

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

When asked about what enables the player a strong option at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the field is something that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the right thing and that was putting the possession back on them to gain territory.

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

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

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and throw-in functioned effectively and another teammate did not look out of place in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland bookending the game with two strong spells.

The player's first two scores came in the first 11 minutes while other teammates scored in the final stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home team finished on a high.

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the match right from the beginning," said Farrell.

"How we managed numerous elements throughout the game, especially 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 familiar with most of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's drawn multiple match contest on rival territory.

The coach's side will require to attain another level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.