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After their previous underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to improve their game.

The team listened immediately.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that marked Ireland's best display this year.

Making his debut test match start at full-back, the player scored a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty challenging run with injuries really," the athlete stated.

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

"Whenever I have to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not get that privilege again.

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

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

After 28 caps on the wing, the player was given the number 15 position for the initial time with several players unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test squad.

Having returned last month, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was especially determined and these proved not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those two colored shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but it seems Hansen just made that himself anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's got a excellent attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's efforts also received praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition player" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his experience showed to the fore," commented the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good fit at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the right thing and that was placing the ball back on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out operated effectively and different player did not look out of place in his first start in the front row.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was Ireland bookending the match with two strong spells.

Hansen's first couple of tries came in the first eleven minutes while other players scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the match right from the beginning," stated Farrell.

"How we handled numerous aspects throughout the match, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on rival territory.

The coach's side will require to attain a higher level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.