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After their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to step up their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

The Irish side had struggled late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's best performance of the season.

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, the player registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty challenging period with fitness issues honestly," the athlete stated.

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

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

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

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

After 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back position for the initial time with multiple players injured.

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

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

Having come back recently, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for earlier matches.

The coach had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not empty words as the ex- club player gave his manager a positive selection headache for future games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to perform well in those two coloured shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's decision to wear different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's has a great attitude to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned praise from the rival coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," said the former national coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the best Australian performer on the pitch. He's has a great ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong option at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the correct approach and that was putting the ball back on them to gain field position.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half position, the scrum and throw-in operated effectively and different teammate did not look out of place in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two strong periods.

Hansen's first couple of scores occurred in the first eleven minutes while other players registered in the final stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a high.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and attacked the match right from the beginning," said Farrell.

"How we handled numerous aspects throughout the match, particularly them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's tied multiple match contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will require to attain another standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct path after an disappointing start to their fall campaign.