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After their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and required considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

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

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've had a fairly challenging period with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this seems like family.

"Any time I get to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications'

After 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with multiple teammates injured.

For him, it was simply a case of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

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

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

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a welcome selection headache for future matches.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better play excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to the player's decision to sport different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that himself regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's efforts also earned commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the best opposition player on the pitch. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong fit at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"His aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the right thing and that was putting the ball again on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and other teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and different player did not appear out of place in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two impressive spells.

The player's first two tries came in the opening 11 minutes while additional teammates registered in the final stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and attacked the match straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"How we managed various aspects during the match, especially the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was truly satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition soil.

The coach's team will need to attain another level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a important step in the right path after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.