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After last week's underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Irish squad to improve their game.

The team listened right away.

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

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that marked the team's best performance this year.

Making his debut international appearance at full-back, the player scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

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

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this group and this seems like family.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not get that privilege again.

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

Manager declared: 'Excellent players don't need justifications'

After 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple players unavailable.

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

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

Having returned recently, he developed a foot problem that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these proved not hollow words as the former club player gave his coach a welcome selection headache for future games.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those different coloured boots!'," said the coach, alluding to the player's choice to sport mismatched boots.

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

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that type of performer, he trains well, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

The player's efforts also earned commendation from the rival coach, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," said the ex- national manager.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the best opposition performer on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

When asked about what enables the player a strong option at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

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

"Why that was the right thing to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions back, and other teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his return to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and line-out operated smoothly and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

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

Hansen's first two scores came in the first eleven moments while additional players registered in the closing exchanges after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and approached the game right from the beginning," stated the coach.

"The way we handled various aspects throughout the match, particularly them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, 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 the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test series on opposition territory.

Farrell's team will require to reach another standard to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a important step in the right direction after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.