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Following their previous underwhelming showing against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to step up their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

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, facing Australia, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 victory that represented Ireland's best performance of the season.

In his debut international start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for high balls and played outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

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

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

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not receive that opportunity again.

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

Coach stated: 'Good athletes don't need excuses'

Following 28 caps on the wing, the player was entrusted the number 15 role for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb condition before physical issues ended his dream of making the Test squad.

After returned recently, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not empty statements as the former club player gave his coach a welcome team headache for upcoming games.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different colored shoes!'," commented the coach, alluding to Hansen'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 attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a great approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he slotted right back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's efforts also earned praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian performer" on the evening.

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best opposition player on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what enables Hansen a good fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is something that he does from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"His aerial work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the correct thing and that was placing the possession back on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half position, the scrum and throw-in functioned smoothly and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was the team bookending the game with multiple strong periods.

The player's first couple of scores came in the first 11 minutes while other players scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the Irish side finished on a positive note.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and attacked the match right from the word go," said Farrell.

"How we managed various elements throughout the match, especially the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of the Springboks are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal conclusion to last year's tied two-Test series on opposition territory.

Farrell's side will require to reach another level to defeat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.