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After last week's underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Ireland squad to step up their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's finest display this year.

Making his debut international appearance at full-back, the player registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for high balls and played outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging period with fitness issues really," Hansen commented.

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

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

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb form before physical issues ended his aspiration of joining the international squad.

Having returned recently, he developed a lower body injury that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially determined and these proved not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive selection dilemma for upcoming matches.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two colored shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched footwear.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that himself regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

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

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," said the ex- international manager.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the best opposition performer on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a strong fit at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in position for that more often.

"His aerial play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the correct approach and that was placing the possession back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and another teammate did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the match with multiple impressive periods.

Hansen's initial two tries occurred in the opening eleven moments while other players scored in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the game straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we managed various aspects throughout the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being across the majority of our game 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 the previous season's tied two-Test series on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will require to attain a higher level to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their fall campaign.