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After their previous underwhelming showing 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 most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, against Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's best performance of the season.

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, the player registered a hat-trick, contested excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult run with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this team, 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 represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Good players require no justifications'

After 28 caps on the wing, the player was given the number 15 position for the initial time with several players unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a matter of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

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

Having come back last month, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was particularly motivated and these proved not empty words as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive selection headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those two coloured boots!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to wear mismatched boots.

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

"I said to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains well, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his detail and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," commented the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the standout Australian player on the pitch. He's has a great ability and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a strong fit at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"His aerial work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the right thing and that was putting the ball back on them to secure field position.

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

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was the team framing the game with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's first couple of scores occurred in the opening eleven moments while other players registered in the final exchanges after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the match right from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we managed various elements throughout the game, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be considered as an informal decider to last year's drawn multiple match contest on rival territory.

The coach's team will need to reach a higher standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.