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After their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland squad to step up their game.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's finest display this year.

In his first test match start at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for high balls and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly challenging run with injuries honestly," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

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

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent players don't need excuses'

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

In his case, it was essentially a case of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury ended his dream of making the international squad.

After returned recently, he suffered a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not empty words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive selection headache for upcoming games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different coloured boots!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to wear mismatched boots.

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

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

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

The player's efforts also earned commendation from the rival manager, who remarked he was the "standout opposition player" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the fore," commented the former international manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best opposition player on the field. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong fit at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the right approach and that was putting the ball back on them to gain field position.

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

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

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and line-out operated smoothly and another player did not look out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for Farrell was the team framing the game with multiple strong periods.

The player's first couple of tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while other teammates registered in the final stages after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and attacked the match right from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we managed numerous aspects during the match, particularly the opposition responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what could be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on rival territory.

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