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Following last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland squad to improve their game.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, against Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's finest display of the season.

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've had a fairly difficult period with injuries really," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

"Whenever I have to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you may not receive that privilege again.

"My whole focus this week was to take the field and perform what I can do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

After twenty-eight appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back position for the initial time with several players unavailable.

For him, it was essentially a case of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

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

After returned last month, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You need to perform well in those different colored boots!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's choice to wear different boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"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 get the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's has a great approach to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to be himself due to that."

The player's performance also earned praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition player" on the night.

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best Australian performer on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what enables the player a good option at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's better in position for that more often.

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

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

Outside the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 position, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the match with two impressive periods.

Hansen's initial couple of tries came in the opening 11 moments while other teammates registered in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team finished on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the match straight from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we handled various aspects throughout the match, especially them responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that second half was truly satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn two-Test contest on rival soil.

The coach's side will need to reach another level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.