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Following their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland squad to improve their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and taken most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's finest performance this year.

Making his debut test match start at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

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

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this seems like family.

"Whenever I have to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

Following 28 appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the first time with multiple players unavailable.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury ended his dream of joining the international squad.

After come back last month, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive team headache for future matches.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those different coloured shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's decision to wear different boots.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but it seems Mack just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the evening.

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

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what enables the player a good fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial play was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was placing the possession again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was securing the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned effectively and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was the team bookending the game with two strong spells.

Hansen's first two tries came in the opening eleven minutes while other players registered in the closing exchanges after the other team had crossed, ensuring the home team finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and approached the game straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we handled numerous elements throughout the match, particularly them responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across most of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn multiple match contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will require to reach another level to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.