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

The team listened right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

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

Making his first test match start at full-back, the player scored a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this group and this feels like family.

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

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

Manager stated: 'Good players require no excuses'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back role for the initial time with several teammates injured.

For him, it was simply a matter of continuing where he left off during the summer.

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

After returned last month, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive team headache for future games.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better play well in those two coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to the player's decision to sport different boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players require no 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, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the rival manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian performer" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the former international manager.

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

When asked about what makes the player a strong fit at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that more often.

"His aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the right thing and that was putting the possession again on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was getting the balls back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and another player did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the game with multiple strong spells.

The player's first two tries occurred in the opening 11 moments while additional teammates registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the match straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"How we handled various elements throughout the match, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across most of our strategy in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on opposition territory.

Farrell's team will need to reach another standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an uninspiring start to their autumn schedule.