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Following their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish team to improve their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's finest performance this year.

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

"You know, I've had a pretty challenging period with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this seems like home.

"Whenever I have to play for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not get that privilege again.

"My whole approach this week was to take the field and do what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

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

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of making the international squad.

Having come back recently, he developed a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for future matches.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You better perform well in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, referring to the player's decision to wear different footwear.

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

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's has a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

The player's performance also earned commendation from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what makes the player a good fit at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that more often.

"His high ball play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the correct thing and that was placing the ball back on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions back, and other players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the scrum and throw-in functioned effectively and another player did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two impressive spells.

The player's initial two scores occurred in the first 11 moments while additional players scored in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the home team finished on a high.

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

"The way we handled numerous aspects throughout the game, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being across most of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach a higher standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an uninspiring start to their fall campaign.