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Following their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to improve their game.

The team responded immediately.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's best performance of the season.

In his first test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

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

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

"Any time I have to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not get that privilege again.

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

Coach stated: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

Following twenty-eight caps on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with several teammates unavailable.

For him, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

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

After returned last month, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the former club player gave his coach a positive selection headache for upcoming matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those different colored boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's decision to wear different footwear.

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

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

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

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

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

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong fit at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the right thing and that was putting the possession back on them to gain territory.

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was securing the possessions returned, and other players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and throw-in operated effectively and different player did not look uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the game with multiple impressive periods.

Hansen's initial two scores occurred in the first 11 moments while other players scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the match straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we managed numerous aspects throughout the match, particularly them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across most of our game in that later period was truly satisfying."

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

Farrell's side will need to attain another standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important step in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.