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Following their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish squad to step up their performance.

The team listened right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's finest performance this year.

In his debut test match start at full-back, the player registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for high balls and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've had a fairly difficult run with fitness issues honestly," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like home.

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

"My whole focus this week was to take the field and do what I can do."

Coach declared: 'Good players require no justifications'

Following 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the initial time with several teammates injured.

In his case, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent form before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of making the Test team.

After come back recently, he developed a lower body injury that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a welcome selection headache for future games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those different colored boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to sport different boots.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just made that himself anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the rival manager, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," commented the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the best opposition player on the field. He's has a great ability and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good fit at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the right thing and that was placing the ball back on them to gain field position.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and different player did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was the team framing the match with two impressive periods.

The player's first two tries came in the first 11 moments while other teammates registered in the final stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home team finished on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the game straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we handled various aspects during the match, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be viewed as an informal conclusion to last year's tied multiple match contest on opposition soil.

The coach's side will require to reach a higher standard to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct direction after an disappointing start to their autumn schedule.