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Following last week's disappointing showing against Japan, the head coach challenged his Ireland team to step up their performance.

The team responded right away.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's best display of the season.

Making his debut international appearance at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've had a fairly challenging period with injuries really," the athlete stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's considerable talk about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this feels like family.

"Whenever I have to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not get that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses'

Following 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was given the full-back position for the first time with multiple players injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before injury ended his dream of joining the international squad.

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

Farrell had indicated that the player was especially motivated and these proved not empty statements as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome team headache for future matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You need to play well in those two coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's decision to sport mismatched boots.

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

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's has a great attitude to understand his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge was evident to the fore," said the former international manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best opposition player on the field. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed 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 flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball work was brilliant, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct thing and that was putting the ball again on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was securing the possessions back, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more satisfying for the manager was Ireland framing the match with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's initial two scores occurred in the first eleven minutes while other players scored in the closing exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we truly let ourselves go and approached the game straight from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we handled numerous elements throughout the match, particularly them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's tied multiple match contest on rival soil.

The coach's team will need to reach another standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important step in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.