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Following their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to improve their performance.

The team listened right away.

Ireland had struggled late against New Zealand and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked the team's finest performance of the season.

In his debut test match appearance at full-back, the player scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty difficult period with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

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

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

"My whole approach this week was to take the field and do what I can do."

Coach declared: 'Good players require no justifications'

After 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with several teammates injured.

In his case, it was essentially a matter of picking up where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before injury ended his dream of joining the international team.

After come back recently, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

The coach had suggested that the player was especially determined and these proved not hollow words as the former club player gave his manager a welcome selection dilemma for upcoming matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You better play excellently in those different colored boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear different footwear.

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

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's has a excellent approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

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

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the fore," commented the former international manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best Australian performer on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong option at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"His aerial work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct approach and that was putting the ball again on them to gain territory.

"Why that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and other players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and throw-in functioned smoothly and different player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the match with multiple impressive spells.

Hansen's initial couple of tries came in the opening eleven minutes while additional teammates scored in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and attacked the game right from the word go," said the coach.

"How we handled numerous elements throughout the match, particularly them responding just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across most of our game in that later period was truly satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied multiple match series on opposition soil.

The coach's side will require to reach another standard to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a significant step in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their fall schedule.