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After their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland team to improve their game.

Ireland listened right away.

The Irish side had faded late against New Zealand and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

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

Making his first international appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this squad, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this group and this seems like home.

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

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

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

After twenty-eight appearances on the wing, Hansen was given the number 15 role for the initial time with several players injured.

In his case, it was essentially a case 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.

After returned last month, he developed a foot problem that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You better play well in those two coloured shoes!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched footwear.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge was evident to the fore," said the ex- international manager.

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

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

"The player's aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I thought we persisted of executing the right approach and that was putting the possession again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was getting the possessions back, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and throw-in functioned effectively and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the match with two strong periods.

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

"In my opinion we truly performed freely and attacked the game straight from the beginning," said Farrell.

"The way we handled various aspects during the match, especially the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across most of our game in that later period was truly satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's tied two-Test series on opposition territory.

The coach's side will need to reach another standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the right direction after an disappointing start to their autumn schedule.