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Following their previous disappointing performance against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland squad to improve their performance.

The team listened right away.

Ireland had faded late against New Zealand and required considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, against Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked Ireland's best performance of the season.

Making his first international start at full-back, the player scored a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with fitness issues honestly," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

"Any time I have to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

After 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the first time with multiple teammates unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the summer.

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

After returned last month, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

The coach had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these proved not hollow words as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive team headache for future games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those two coloured boots!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

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

"I said to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's has a great approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

Hansen's efforts also received praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," commented the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the standout opposition player on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen 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 regardless, but I imagine he's better in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the correct approach and that was placing the ball back on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and another player did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the game with multiple impressive periods.

The player's first couple of scores came in the first 11 minutes while additional players registered in the final stages after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the game straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we handled various elements throughout the game, particularly them coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to last year's tied two-Test series on opposition soil.

Farrell's side will require to reach another standard to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn campaign.