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After their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland squad to improve their game.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked Ireland's finest display this year.

In his first international start at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty challenging run with injuries honestly," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this feels like home.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not get that opportunity again.

"My whole approach this week was to take the field and perform what I could do."

Coach declared: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

Following 28 caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with several players unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he finished during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues disrupted his dream of joining the international squad.

After come back recently, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not hollow words as the ex- club player gave his manager a positive team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those two colored boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to wear different footwear.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

The player's performance also received praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong fit at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"His high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the correct thing and that was placing the possession again on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was securing the possessions back, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and different player did not look out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two strong periods.

The player's initial two tries came in the first eleven minutes while other players scored in the closing exchanges after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and attacked the match straight from the beginning," said Farrell.

"How we managed numerous elements throughout the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across most of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn multiple match series on rival soil.

The coach's side will need to attain another level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.