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After last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Ireland team to step up their game.

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a 46-19 triumph that represented Ireland's best performance of the season.

Making his first test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and performed exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with fitness issues really," Hansen stated.

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

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

"My whole approach this week was to go out and do what I can do."

Manager declared: 'Good players don't need excuses'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with several teammates injured.

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

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

Having come back recently, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not empty words as the former club player gave his coach a welcome selection dilemma for future games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You better perform well in those different coloured shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to Hansen's decision to wear different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also received commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "standout opposition player" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," said the ex- national coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the best opposition performer on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong fit at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"His high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right thing and that was placing the possession back on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated effectively and another player did not appear out of place in his first start in the front row.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was the team bookending the match with multiple impressive periods.

Hansen's first couple of scores came in the opening 11 minutes while other players scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the game right from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we handled numerous aspects throughout the match, especially them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was truly satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's tied two-Test series on rival soil.

The coach's side will require to attain another level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.