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After their previous underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to improve their performance.

Ireland responded right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and required considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's best performance of the season.

Making his first international start at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, competed excellently for high balls and performed outstandingly against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult run with fitness issues honestly," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this feels like home.

"Any time I get to play for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you might not get that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

After 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the initial time with several teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a matter of picking up where he left off during the summer.

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues disrupted his dream of joining the Test squad.

Having returned recently, he suffered a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier matches.

Farrell had indicated that the player was particularly determined and these proved not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a welcome team headache for future matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those different colored boots!'," said Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to wear different boots.

"In fact I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Good players require no justifications, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you choose,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he fitted straight back in and he was able to perform naturally because of that."

The player's performance also received commendation from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge was evident to the front," commented the ex- national coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the standout opposition performer on the field. He's has a great ability and he's such a strong competitor."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong fit at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's aerial work was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct thing and that was placing the ball again on them to secure territory.

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

Outside the star performer, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Another player was outstanding on his return to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and different teammate did not look out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was Ireland framing the match with multiple impressive periods.

The player's initial two scores occurred in the opening 11 minutes while additional teammates scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home team finished on a high.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and attacked the game right from the beginning," said the coach.

"How we managed various elements throughout the match, especially the opposition coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed 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 Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal decider to last year's tied multiple match contest on rival territory.

The coach's side will require to attain another standard to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the correct path after an disappointing start to their autumn campaign.