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After their previous disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to step up their performance.

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and required considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, against Australia, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's best performance of the season.

In his debut international start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty challenging run with injuries really," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much talk about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like family.

"Whenever I get to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you might not receive that opportunity again.

"My whole focus this period was to go out and perform what I can do."

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

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his dream of making the international squad.

After come back recently, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for earlier matches.

The coach had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those different colored boots!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's decision to wear mismatched boots.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just made that personally regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

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

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," said the former international manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the standout opposition player on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what makes the player a good fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the right thing and that was placing the possession again on them to secure territory.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in operated effectively and another teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two impressive periods.

The player's initial two scores came in the opening eleven minutes while other teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a high.

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

"The way we managed various aspects throughout the match, 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 field position and being across the majority of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might 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 standard to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important step in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.