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

Ireland responded right away.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that represented the team's best performance this year.

In his debut international start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult period with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

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

"Any time I get to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not get that privilege again.

"My entire focus this period was to take the field and do what I can do."

Coach stated: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, the player was given the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury ended his aspiration of making the international team.

Having returned recently, he suffered a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not empty words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched boots.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but it seems Mack just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's has a great attitude to get across his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the rival coach, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," said the former national manager.

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

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong fit at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the middle of the field is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the right approach and that was placing the possession again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and additional players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned smoothly and different player did not look uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was Ireland framing the game with two impressive spells.

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

"I thought we really let ourselves go and attacked the match straight from the beginning," said Farrell.

"How we handled various elements throughout the game, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an informal decider to last year's drawn multiple match series on rival soil.

Farrell's team will require to reach another level to beat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.