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

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's best display of the season.

In his first test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've had a pretty challenging period with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's considerable talk about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised 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 don't put in a performance you may not get that privilege again.

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

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

After 28 appearances on the flank, the player was given the number 15 position for the initial time with several teammates unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a matter of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb form before physical issues disrupted his dream of making the Test squad.

After returned recently, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not hollow statements as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's choice to wear different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Hansen just made that personally anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

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

"So he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's has a great approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

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

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the front," said the former national coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the best opposition player on the field. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a good fit at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that more often.

"His high ball work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was placing the possession again on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions back, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and another teammate did not look out of place in his first start in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two impressive spells.

The player's first couple of tries occurred in the first 11 minutes while additional players scored in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

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

"The way we managed various elements during the game, particularly them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being across most of our game in that second half was truly satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an informal conclusion to last year's tied two-Test contest on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to attain another standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant step in the correct path after an disappointing start to their autumn campaign.