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Following their previous disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish team to step up their performance.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had struggled late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented Ireland's finest display of the season.

In his debut international appearance at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for high balls and performed exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty challenging run with injuries honestly," the athlete commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like family.

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

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with several teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues ended his dream of making the international team.

Having returned recently, he suffered a lower body injury that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive selection headache for upcoming games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to perform well in those two colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, alluding to Hansen's choice to sport different boots.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's has a great approach to get across his detail and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

The player's efforts also received commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Mack was probably the best Australian player on the pitch. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's better in position for that more often.

"His high ball play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the right approach and that was placing the ball again on them to secure field position.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and different player did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was the team framing the game with multiple strong periods.

Hansen's initial couple of scores came in the opening eleven moments while additional players scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish side finished on a high.

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

"How we handled various aspects throughout the match, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test series on rival territory.

Farrell's side will need to reach another level to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the correct direction after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.