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After last week's disappointing 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 in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's best performance of the season.

Making his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with injuries honestly," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's considerable talk about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this feels like family.

"Whenever I get to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you may not receive that opportunity again.

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

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

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with several players injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before physical issues ended his dream of joining the Test team.

After come back recently, he developed a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not empty words as the former provincial player gave his manager a positive selection headache for upcoming matches.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better perform well in those different colored shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's decision to sport different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that himself regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

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

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

Hansen's performance also received praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian player" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best Australian player on the field. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what makes the player a strong fit at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was putting the possession back on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions back, and other teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and different teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the match with two strong spells.

The player's initial couple of tries came in the first 11 moments while additional teammates registered in the closing stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the home team concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the game straight from the word go," stated Farrell.

"How we managed various elements during the game, especially the opposition responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with most of our strategy in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on rival soil.

The coach's side will need to attain a higher standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.