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Following last week's disappointing showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to improve their performance.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had faded late against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's finest display of the season.

In his debut international appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you might not get that privilege again.

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

Coach stated: 'Good players don't need excuses'

Following 28 caps on the wing, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

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

The experienced player had been in superb condition before physical issues ended his dream of joining the Test team.

Having returned recently, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former club player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those two coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's choice to sport different footwear.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's got a great attitude to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight back in and he was able to be himself due to that."

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

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout Australian player on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables the player a good fit at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was placing the ball back on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and additional players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out operated effectively and another player did not appear out of place in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the game with two strong periods.

Hansen's initial couple of tries occurred in the opening eleven minutes while other teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we really performed freely and approached the match right from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we handled numerous elements throughout the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition territory.

Farrell's team will require to attain another standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important step in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.