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Following last week's disappointing showing against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to step up their game.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and taken most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's finest performance this year.

In his first test match appearance at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, competed brilliantly for high balls and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult period with fitness issues honestly," the athlete commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's considerable discussion 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 represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you might not get that opportunity again.

"My entire approach this week was to go out and do what I could do."

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes require no justifications'

After 28 appearances on the flank, the player was given the full-back position for the first time with multiple players injured.

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

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

After returned recently, he developed a lower body problem that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

The coach had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for future matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to play well in those different colored boots!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's decision to wear mismatched footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just made that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "standout opposition player" on the night.

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what makes Hansen a good option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

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

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and additional players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and another teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the match with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's initial couple of tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while other players registered in the final stages after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the Irish team finished on a high.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the game straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous elements throughout the match, especially them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across most of our strategy in that later period was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied multiple match series on rival soil.

Farrell's side will require to attain another standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn schedule.