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After their previous disappointing showing against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to improve their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

Ireland had struggled late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that represented the team's finest display this year.

In his debut international start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for high balls and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly challenging period with injuries really," the athlete commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

"Any time I get to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not get that opportunity again.

"My whole approach this week was to take the field and do what I could do."

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses'

Following 28 caps on the wing, the player was given the number 15 role for the first time with multiple players unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of picking up where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury ended his dream of joining the international team.

After returned recently, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome selection headache for future games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You need to play excellently in those two coloured boots!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport different boots.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but it seems Hansen just did that himself 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 justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that type of player, he trains well, he's got a great approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable 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 night.

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition performer on the field. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good option at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he does from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the correct approach and that was placing the possession again on them to gain territory.

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

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and different player did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with multiple strong spells.

The player's initial two scores came in the first eleven minutes while other players registered in the final stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a high.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and attacked the match right from the beginning," said the coach.

"How we managed various elements throughout the match, especially them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that second half was truly satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on rival soil.

Farrell's team will require to attain a higher level to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.