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After last week's disappointing showing against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Ireland team to step up their performance.

Ireland listened immediately.

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

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's best display of the season.

In his first international start at full-back, the player registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've had a pretty challenging run with injuries really," the athlete stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

"Whenever I have to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

"My whole approach this period was to take the field and do what I can do."

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

After twenty-eight appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back role for the initial time with multiple teammates unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury ended his aspiration of joining the Test team.

After come back recently, he developed a lower body problem that ruled him out for previous matches.

The coach had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the former club player gave his manager a welcome team headache for future matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those two colored boots!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched footwear.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just made that himself regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains thoroughly, he's got a great approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

The player's performance also received praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," commented the ex- international coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the standout Australian performer on the pitch. He's has a great ability and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a good option at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the middle of the field is something that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's better in position for that more often.

"The player's aerial play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the right thing and that was putting the possession again on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and another player did not look out of place in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the game with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's initial two tries occurred in the first 11 minutes while other players registered in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and attacked the game right from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"The way we handled various aspects throughout the game, especially the opposition coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with most of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

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

The coach's side will need 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 path after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.