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Following their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Ireland team to improve their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's finest display of the season.

Making his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like family.

"Any time I get to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

After 28 appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the first time with several players unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before physical issues disrupted his dream of making the Test team.

Having come back recently, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the former club player gave his manager a positive selection headache for future games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better play well in those different coloured boots!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout Australian performer on the field. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's better in place for that frequently.

"His high ball work was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the right approach and that was placing the ball again on them to gain territory.

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

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

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and another player did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps more pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two impressive spells.

The player's initial couple of tries came in the first 11 moments while additional players registered in the closing exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the home team concluded on a high.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and attacked the match right from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we handled numerous aspects during the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal decider to last year's drawn two-Test contest on rival soil.

The coach's team will need to reach another level to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an disappointing start to their fall campaign.