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After their previous disappointing showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Ireland team to step up their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

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

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a 46-19 triumph that represented the team's best performance of the season.

In his first international appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this squad, I know 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 family.

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

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent players require no excuses'

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

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

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

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

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the former club player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those different coloured boots!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to sport mismatched boots.

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

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's efforts also received commendation from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge was evident to the front," commented the former national manager.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the standout Australian player on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good fit at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that frequently.

"His high ball work was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the correct approach and that was placing the ball again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was getting the balls returned, and other teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple positives for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and line-out operated smoothly and another teammate did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with two strong periods.

The player's initial two scores came in the first eleven moments while other players registered in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the game straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we handled numerous aspects during the match, especially them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's tied multiple match contest on opposition territory.

The coach's team will need to reach another standard to beat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.