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Following their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish squad to step up their performance.

The team 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.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that represented the team's best display of the season.

Making his debut international start at full-back, the player registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with injuries really," the athlete commented.

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

"Any time I get to play for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not get that opportunity again.

"My whole approach this period was to go out and do what I can do."

Manager declared: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

After 28 appearances on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

In his case, it was simply a case of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test squad.

After returned last month, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous matches.

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for future games.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You better perform well in those different colored boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's choice to wear different boots.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but it seems Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good players don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," commented the former international coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the standout opposition player on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a strong fit at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that more often.

"The player's aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was putting the ball again on them to secure field position.

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was getting the balls returned, and additional players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half position, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and another player did not look uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the match with two impressive periods.

Hansen's first couple of tries occurred in the first 11 minutes while other teammates registered in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish team concluded on a high.

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

"The way we handled various elements during the match, especially them coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what might be considered as an informal decider to last year's tied multiple match series on rival soil.

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