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After their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

The team responded immediately.

Ireland had struggled late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to get going versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented Ireland's best display this year.

Making his first test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've had a pretty difficult period with fitness issues really," Hansen commented.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's considerable talk about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this seems like home.

"Whenever I get to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you may not get that privilege again.

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

Manager declared: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

After twenty-eight appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with multiple players unavailable.

For him, it was simply a matter of continuing where he finished during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues ended his dream of making the international team.

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

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not empty words as the former club player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for upcoming matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those two coloured boots!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to sport different boots.

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

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

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned commendation from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

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

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the best opposition player on the field. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good contender."

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

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the correct thing and that was putting the possession again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and different player did not look out of place in his first start in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the game with two impressive periods.

The player's initial two tries occurred in the opening 11 minutes while additional players scored in the closing exchanges after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish team finished on a positive note.

"I thought we really performed freely and approached the game right from the word go," stated the coach.

"The way we managed numerous aspects throughout the match, especially them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what might be viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied multiple match contest on opposition soil.

The coach's side will require to reach a higher standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.