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Following last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish team to step up their performance.

Ireland responded immediately.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, facing Australia, they began strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's finest display of the season.

In his first test match appearance at full-back, the player scored a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've had a fairly difficult run with injuries really," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this group and this feels like home.

"Whenever I get to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you might not receive that privilege again.

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

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

After 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back role for the initial time with multiple players injured.

In his case, it was simply a matter of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent form before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test squad.

Having returned last month, he developed a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not empty statements as the former provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those different colored boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's decision to sport different footwear.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he trains well, he's has a great approach to get across his detail and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's efforts also earned praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," said the ex- international manager.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the best Australian performer on the pitch. He's has a great ability and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's better in position for that more often.

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

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and throw-in functioned smoothly and different player did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the match with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's first couple of tries occurred in the opening eleven minutes while additional teammates registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and attacked the match right from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we managed numerous aspects throughout the match, especially them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test series on opposition soil.

Farrell's team will require to attain another level to beat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.