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Following last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to step up their game.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's finest performance of the season.

Making his debut international start at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

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

"I missed being in this squad, I understand 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 home.

"Whenever I have to play for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not receive that privilege again.

"My entire approach this period was to go out and perform what I could do."

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes require no justifications'

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with several teammates injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before physical issues ended his aspiration of making the Test team.

After returned last month, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former club player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for future matches.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You need to play well in those different colored boots!'," commented the coach, referring to the player's decision to wear mismatched footwear.

"In fact I thought that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players 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 went, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted 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 stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the fore," commented the former national coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's got a great ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the right approach and that was placing the ball again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was securing the possessions back, and other players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and different player did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with multiple strong periods.

The player's first two scores occurred in the opening eleven moments while additional players scored in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

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

"How we handled numerous elements during the match, particularly them coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an informal decider to last year's drawn multiple match series on opposition territory.

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