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Following last week's disappointing showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to step up their game.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's finest display of the season.

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with fitness issues honestly," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this squad, 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 home.

"Whenever I get to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not get that privilege again.

"My entire focus this period was to go out and do what I can do."

Coach stated: 'Good players don't need justifications'

After 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with multiple teammates unavailable.

For him, it was essentially a case of continuing where he finished during the summer.

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

After returned recently, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for previous matches.

The coach had suggested that the player was especially determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive team headache for upcoming games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You better play well in those two coloured boots!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to wear mismatched footwear.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just made that personally regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's got a great approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "standout opposition player" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best opposition player on the pitch. He's has a great ability and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what enables the player a good fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's better in position for that more often.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the right thing and that was placing the possession back on them to gain territory.

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and additional players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and another player did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the match with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's first two scores came in the first eleven minutes while additional teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team finished on a positive note.

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

"How we managed various aspects throughout the match, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal decider to last year's tied multiple match contest on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to attain a higher standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.