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Following their previous underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to improve their game.

The team listened right away.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that represented the team's best performance this year.

In his debut test match start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've had a fairly difficult run with injuries really," the athlete commented.

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

"Whenever I get to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

After 28 appearances on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with several players injured.

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

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

After returned recently, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially determined and these proved not hollow statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for future matches.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to perform well in those different coloured boots!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to wear different boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just made that personally regardless. So he's drawn 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 choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent attitude to get across his preparation and thus that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

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

"In my view he was super, his experience was evident to the front," commented the ex- international coach.

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

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good fit at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball work was excellent, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the right thing and that was putting the possession again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and other players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and different teammate did not appear out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was the team framing the game with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's initial couple of tries occurred in the first 11 moments while other players scored in the closing exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a positive note.

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

"The way we managed various aspects throughout the match, especially them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal decider to last year's drawn multiple match contest on rival soil.

The coach's team will need to attain a higher level to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn schedule.