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Following last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Ireland team to improve their game.

Ireland listened right away.

Ireland had faded late against New Zealand and required considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's best display of the season.

In his first international appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

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

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

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

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

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

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test team.

After returned last month, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was especially determined and these turned out to be not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive selection dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better play well in those different colored boots!'," said the coach, referring to the player's decision to sport different footwear.

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

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's got a excellent approach to understand his detail and so that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also earned commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," said the ex- national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best opposition player on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct thing and that was placing the possession again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and different teammate did not look out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was the team framing the game with two strong periods.

Hansen's initial couple of scores occurred in the first 11 moments while additional teammates registered in the final stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the home team finished on a positive note.

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

"The way we managed various aspects during the match, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was truly satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's tied two-Test contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will need to reach a higher level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.