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Following their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Irish team to step up their game.

The team listened immediately.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

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

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

"Look, I've had a pretty difficult run with fitness issues honestly," the athlete stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable talk 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 play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.

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

Coach stated: 'Excellent athletes require no justifications'

Following 28 caps on the wing, the player was given the full-back position for the initial time with multiple teammates unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before injury ended his dream of joining the Test team.

After come back last month, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not empty statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a welcome selection dilemma for future matches.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those two coloured shoes!'," commented Farrell, referring to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched footwear.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

Hansen's efforts also received commendation from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the fore," said the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the best Australian player on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what enables the player a good option at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's better in place for that frequently.

"His aerial work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the right approach and that was putting the ball again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned effectively and another player did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was the team framing the game with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's first couple of scores came in the opening eleven moments while additional teammates registered in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish team concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and attacked the match right from the beginning," stated the coach.

"The way we managed numerous elements throughout the game, especially the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn two-Test series on opposition soil.

The coach's team will need to attain a higher level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.