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

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's finest display of the season.

In his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for high balls and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've had a fairly difficult period with fitness issues honestly," the athlete stated.

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

"Whenever I have to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach stated: 'Good athletes don't need excuses'

Following twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was given the full-back role for the first time with multiple teammates unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury ended his aspiration of joining the international team.

Having come back recently, he developed a lower body problem that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for upcoming games.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those different colored boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's decision to wear different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but it seems Hansen just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, 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 prepares thoroughly, he's got a great attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned commendation from the rival coach, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," said the former national manager.

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

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good option at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the right approach and that was putting the ball again on them to gain field position.

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

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and another teammate did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for the manager was Ireland framing the game with two impressive spells.

Hansen's initial two tries came in the opening eleven minutes while other teammates scored in the closing stages after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we really performed freely and attacked the match right from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we handled various aspects during the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for the team, in what might be viewed as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn two-Test contest on rival territory.

Farrell's side will need to reach a higher level to defeat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.