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After last week's underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

The team responded immediately.

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

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's finest display this year.

In his debut international appearance at the number 15 position, the player registered a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've had a fairly challenging period with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's considerable talk about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like family.

"Any time I get to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you may not receive that opportunity again.

"My whole approach this period was to go out and perform what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Good athletes don't need justifications'

After 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with multiple players injured.

For him, it was simply a matter of picking up where he left off during the summer.

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

Having come back last month, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

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

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You need to perform well in those different colored shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to wear different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that himself regardless. So he's attracted 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 play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he fitted straight back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge was evident to the fore," said the former national coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition performer on the field. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong option at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's better in position for that frequently.

"His high ball play was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was putting the possession back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was securing the possessions returned, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and another player did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps more pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with multiple impressive periods.

Hansen's initial two tries came in the first eleven moments while additional players registered in the final stages after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and approached the match straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we handled various aspects throughout the game, particularly them responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an informal decider to last year's tied two-Test contest on rival soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach a higher level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right path after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.