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After last week's underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish squad to step up their game.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, against Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's finest performance this year.

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

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

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's considerable talk about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this seems like family.

"Whenever I get to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you may not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Good players require no excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the wing, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with several teammates unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in superb condition before physical issues ended his dream of joining the international squad.

Having returned last month, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty statements as the former club player gave his coach a welcome selection dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those two coloured boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's decision to sport different boots.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good players don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

Hansen's performance also received praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," commented the ex- international manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the best Australian player on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a strong option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

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

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and another teammate did not look out of place in his first appearance in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was the team bookending the game with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's initial couple of scores came in the opening 11 minutes while other players registered in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

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

"The way we handled numerous elements throughout the game, particularly them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's tied two-Test series on opposition soil.

The coach's side will need to attain a higher level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their autumn schedule.