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

The team responded immediately.

Ireland had struggled late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's best performance of the season.

In his debut test match start at full-back, Hansen scored a three tries, competed brilliantly for high balls and performed exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've had a pretty difficult period with injuries honestly," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's considerable talk 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 get to play for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you may not receive that privilege again.

"My entire focus this week was to go out and do what I can do."

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

Following twenty-eight caps on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with several players injured.

For him, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he left off during the summer.

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

Having returned recently, he developed a lower body injury that ruled him out for earlier matches.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was particularly motivated and these proved not empty statements as the former club player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for upcoming games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform excellently in those two colored boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear different footwear.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his detail and so that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the rival manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the front," said the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong competitor."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was putting the possession back on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions returned, and other players, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and different teammate did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps most pleasing for Farrell was the team bookending the match with multiple impressive periods.

Hansen's initial two scores occurred in the first eleven moments while other players registered in the final stages after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home team finished on a positive note.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and approached the match right from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects during the game, particularly them responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across most of our strategy in that later period was truly satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test series on rival soil.

The coach's side will need to attain another level to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn schedule.