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After last week's disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to step up their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's finest performance of the season.

In his debut test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've had a fairly difficult period with injuries honestly," the athlete stated.

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

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

"My whole focus this week was to go out and do what I can do."

Coach declared: 'Excellent players require no justifications'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, the player was given the full-back role for the first time with several players unavailable.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury ended his aspiration of making the international squad.

Having returned last month, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome team headache for upcoming games.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different colored shoes!'," said Farrell, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport different boots.

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

"I said to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight back in and he was able to be himself due to that."

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

"In my view he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," said the ex- international coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the standout Australian performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong option at full-back, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's better in position for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the right approach and that was putting the possession again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was getting the balls returned, and additional players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and different teammate did not look uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the game with multiple impressive spells.

The player's first couple of tries occurred in the first 11 minutes while other players scored in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home team finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and approached the match straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"How we managed numerous aspects during the game, especially the opposition responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on opposition territory.

Farrell's side will need to reach a higher standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the correct path after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.