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Following their previous disappointing showing against Japan, the head coach told his Irish team to step up their performance.

The team listened immediately.

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

However, facing the Wallabies, they began strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's best performance this year.

Making his debut test match start at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty challenging run with injuries really," Hansen commented.

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

"Any time I have to play for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not get that privilege again.

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

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

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was given the number 15 role for the first time with multiple teammates unavailable.

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

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury ended his dream of joining the Test team.

After returned last month, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

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

"So my first reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those two colored boots!'," said the coach, referring to Hansen's choice to sport mismatched boots.

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

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares well, he's has a excellent approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

The player's performance also earned commendation from the rival manager, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his experience was evident to the front," said the former national manager.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the best opposition player on the field. He's got a excellent skillset and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's better in position for that more often.

"His high ball work was excellent, don't you think? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the right thing and that was placing the possession again on them to gain territory.

"Why that was the right strategy to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was securing the balls back, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside the star performer, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Another player was outstanding on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the set piece and throw-in operated effectively and another player did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps most pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the match with multiple strong spells.

Hansen's first two tries occurred in the first 11 minutes while other players registered in the final exchanges after the opposition had crossed, ensuring the home team finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and attacked the game straight from the word go," stated Farrell.

"How we handled various elements during the game, particularly the opposition coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being across most of our game in that second half was really satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on rival territory.

Farrell's team will need to reach a higher level to beat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the right path after an disappointing start to their fall campaign.