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After their previous disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Irish squad to step up their performance.

Ireland responded immediately.

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

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a comprehensive victory that represented Ireland's best display this year.

Making his debut international start at the number 15 position, the player registered a hat-trick, contested excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've had a pretty challenging run with fitness issues honestly," the athlete stated.

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

"Whenever I have to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you may not get that privilege again.

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

Coach stated: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

After 28 appearances on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

In his case, it was simply a matter of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before physical issues disrupted his dream of making the international squad.

After come back recently, he developed a lower body injury that ruled him out for earlier matches.

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

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two colored shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to wear different boots.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent attitude to understand his preparation and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was capable to be himself due to that."

Hansen's performance also received praise from the rival coach, who remarked he was the "standout opposition player" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the front," commented the ex- national coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best Australian player on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good option at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball play was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was placing the ball again on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was securing the balls returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and throw-in operated effectively and another teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the forwards.

But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the match with two impressive periods.

The player's initial two tries came in the opening eleven moments while other players scored in the final stages after the other team had scored, ensuring the home team finished on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and attacked the game straight from the word go," stated the coach.

"How we handled various aspects during the game, particularly them coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with most of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on rival soil.

Farrell's side will need to attain another level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the right direction after an disappointing beginning to their fall schedule.