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Following last week's disappointing showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Ireland team to improve their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

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

Nevertheless, against Australia, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining most prominently during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's best performance of the season.

Making his first international start at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've had a fairly difficult period with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this seems like family.

"Whenever I get to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you may not receive that privilege again.

"My entire focus this period was to go out and do what I can do."

Coach stated: 'Good players don't need justifications'

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was given the number 15 position for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

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

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

Having come back last month, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these proved not empty words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive team headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You better play excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport different boots.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but it seems Hansen just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Good players don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's has a great approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the night.

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what makes the player a good option at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is something that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's better in position for that more often.

"His aerial play was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we persisted of doing the right approach and that was putting the ball back on them to gain territory.

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

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two impressive periods.

Hansen's first two scores occurred in the first eleven minutes while other teammates registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish side concluded on a high.

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

"How we handled numerous aspects during the game, particularly them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

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

The coach's team will need to attain another level to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.