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Following last week's underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to improve their performance.

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's finest display of the season.

In his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like family.

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

"My entire focus this period was to take the field and do what I can do."

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

Following twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test team.

After returned recently, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome team headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You better play excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's choice to sport mismatched footwear.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but it seems Mack just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was able to be himself due to that."

The player's efforts also earned praise from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, 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 has a excellent ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a strong option at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

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

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

Beyond the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the forwards.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland bookending the game with two strong spells.

The player's first couple of tries came in the opening 11 moments while other teammates scored in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and attacked the game right from the word go," stated Farrell.

"How we handled various aspects during the match, particularly them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with most of our strategy in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an informal conclusion to last year's tied two-Test contest on rival soil.

Farrell's team will need to attain another level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.