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After their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, the head coach told his Irish squad to step up their performance.

The team responded immediately.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's best performance of the season.

In his first international start at full-back, the player scored a three tries, contested brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's much discussion about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like home.

"Whenever I get to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not get that privilege again.

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

Manager declared: 'Good players require no justifications'

Following twenty-eight caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with multiple players unavailable.

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

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

Having come back recently, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not empty words as the former provincial player gave his manager a positive team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two colored shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

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

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's got a great approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the front," commented the former international coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes the player a strong option at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's better in place for that more often.

"His high ball work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the right approach and that was putting the ball again on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated effectively and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the game with two impressive periods.

The player's first couple of scores occurred in the opening 11 minutes while additional players scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home team finished on a high.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the game straight from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous aspects during the game, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being across most of our game in that later period was truly satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition soil.

Farrell's team will require to reach a higher level to beat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.