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Following their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

The team listened right away.

Ireland had struggled late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a 46-19 victory that represented the team's best display of the season.

Making his first test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, competed excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty difficult run with injuries honestly," Hansen stated.

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

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you may not get that opportunity again.

"My entire focus this period was to go out and perform what I can do."

Manager declared: 'Good athletes don't need justifications'

After 28 caps on the flank, the player was given the full-back role for the first time with several players injured.

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

The experienced player had been in superb condition before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the international squad.

Having come back last month, he suffered a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous matches.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for future matches.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those different coloured boots!'," commented the coach, alluding to the player's decision to wear mismatched boots.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that personally anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's got a great approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

The player's performance also earned praise from the rival coach, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the evening.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience showed to the fore," said the former national manager.

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

Pressed about what enables Hansen a strong fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the center of the field is something that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in place for that frequently.

"His aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of executing the right thing and that was putting the ball again on them to secure field position.

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

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and another player did not appear out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But possibly most satisfying for Farrell was the team framing the match with multiple strong periods.

The player's initial two tries came in the first eleven moments while other teammates registered in the final stages after the other team had crossed, ensuring the home team concluded on a high.

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

"The way we handled numerous aspects throughout the match, particularly them coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being across most of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match contest on rival soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach another level to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important step in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.