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Following last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Ireland team to improve their game.

Ireland responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and taken most of the match to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a 46-19 triumph that marked Ireland's best performance this year.

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his origin.

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

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this seems like family.

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

"My whole approach this period was to go out and perform what I can do."

Coach stated: 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications'

After 28 caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with several teammates injured.

For him, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before injury ended his dream of making the Test squad.

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

The coach had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not hollow words as the former club player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those different colored shoes!'," said the coach, referring to the player's choice to wear mismatched boots.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that personally anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

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

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's got a great approach to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted straight back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

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

"I thought he was super, his knowledge was evident to the front," said the ex- national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the standout Australian performer on the field. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong option at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine 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 executing the right approach and that was putting the ball back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the possessions back, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the game with multiple strong spells.

The player's initial two tries came in the opening eleven moments while other players scored in the final stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish side finished on a high.

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

"How we managed numerous aspects during the match, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our strategy in that later period was truly pleasing."

The strength of the Springboks 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.

Farrell's side will require to attain another level to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.