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Following their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Ireland team to step up their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's best performance this year.

Making his debut test match appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for high balls and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult run with injuries really," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this seems like home.

"Any time I have to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

Following 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with several players injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before physical issues ended his dream of joining the Test squad.

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

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former club player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better perform excellently in those different coloured shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to wear different footwear.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

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

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

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

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

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes the player a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is something that he does from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the right thing and that was putting the possession again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions back, and other players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Beyond the star performer, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and another player did not look uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the match with multiple impressive spells.

The player's initial two scores occurred in the first 11 moments while other teammates scored in the final exchanges after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the game straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects throughout the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with most of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal decider to last year's tied multiple match series on opposition territory.

Farrell's team will require to attain another level to defeat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.