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After their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish team to step up their game.

The team listened right away.

The Irish side had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and required considerable time to get going versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented Ireland's finest performance this year.

Making his first international start at full-back, the player registered a three tries, competed excellently for high balls and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"Look, I've had a fairly difficult period with injuries really," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this feels like family.

"Whenever I have to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you may not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach stated: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

After twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was given the number 15 role for the first time with several teammates injured.

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

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

After returned recently, he developed a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

The coach had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a positive team headache for future matches.

"So my first thoughts were, 'You better play well in those different colored boots!'," said the coach, referring to the player's decision to sport different boots.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's attracted 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 want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight back in and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

Hansen's efforts also earned commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian player" on the evening.

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

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the standout Australian performer on the field. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong fit at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I imagine he's better in place for that more often.

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

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside the star performer, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut start in the front row.

But perhaps more satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the game with multiple strong periods.

Hansen's initial couple of tries occurred in the first 11 moments while other players registered in the closing stages after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the Irish team finished on a positive note.

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

"The way we handled numerous elements throughout the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our strategy 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 the previous season's tied two-Test series on rival territory.

Farrell's side will need to attain a higher standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the right path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall campaign.