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After their previous disappointing showing against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

The team responded right away.

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

However, facing the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's finest display this year.

Making his first test match appearance at full-back, the player scored a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this feels like home.

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

"My whole focus this week was to go out and perform what I could do."

Coach declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

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

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

Having returned last month, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his manager a positive selection headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial reaction were, 'You need to perform well in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to wear mismatched footwear.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's got a great approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's efforts also received praise from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

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

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

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong option at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the right approach and that was placing the possession again on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and another teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was Ireland framing the match with two impressive periods.

Hansen's initial couple of tries occurred in the opening eleven moments while other players registered in the closing stages after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we really performed freely and approached the game right from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we managed various aspects throughout the game, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal decider to last year's drawn multiple match series on opposition territory.

The coach's team will require to reach another level to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their autumn schedule.