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After last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to improve their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

Ireland had faded late against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to get going versus Japan.

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

In his first test match appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult run with injuries honestly," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this feels like family.

"Whenever I have to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you might not get that opportunity again.

"My entire approach this week was to go out and do what I could do."

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses'

Following twenty-eight caps on the flank, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the first time with multiple teammates unavailable.

For him, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before injury disrupted his aspiration of making the Test team.

Having come back last month, he developed a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive selection headache for future games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those different coloured boots!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's decision to wear different boots.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's performance also earned commendation from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "standout opposition player" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his experience showed to the front," commented the former international coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the standout Australian performer on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a good option at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was placing the ball again on them to secure territory.

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

Outside the star performer, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned effectively and another teammate did not appear out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly most satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the match with multiple impressive spells.

The player's first two tries occurred in the opening 11 minutes while other players registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we really performed freely and approached the match right from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we handled numerous aspects during the match, especially the opposition responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what might be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to last year's tied multiple match series on rival soil.

Farrell's team will require to attain another standard to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct path after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.