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Following their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to step up their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's finest performance of the season.

Making his debut international appearance at full-back, the player scored a three tries, competed excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging run with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like family.

"Whenever I get to play for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you may not get that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Good players require no justifications'

Following 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with multiple teammates unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury ended his dream of making the international team.

Having returned last month, he suffered a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

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

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You need to perform well in those different coloured boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's choice to wear different footwear.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good players require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's performance also received praise from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best Australian player on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what enables Hansen a good fit at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"His aerial play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the correct thing and that was placing the ball back on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and other players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and different teammate did not look out of place in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for the manager was the team framing the game with two strong spells.

Hansen's first two scores occurred in the first eleven moments while additional teammates registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and approached the game straight from the beginning," stated the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects throughout the game, especially the opposition responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with most of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal decider to the previous season's tied multiple match contest on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to reach a higher level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the right path after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.