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After last week's disappointing performance against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland squad to improve their game.

Ireland listened right away.

Ireland had faded late against New Zealand and taken most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, against Australia, they began powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented Ireland's best display this year.

Making his debut test match appearance at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a three tries, competed excellently for high balls and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's much discussion 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 get to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not receive that privilege again.

"My entire focus this period was to take the field and do what I could do."

Manager declared: 'Good athletes require no excuses'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with several teammates injured.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury ended his dream of joining the international squad.

After returned last month, he suffered a foot injury that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.

The coach had indicated that the player was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive team dilemma for future games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You better perform excellently in those different colored shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to wear different footwear.

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

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

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to get across his detail and thus that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

The player's performance also received praise from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "standout Australian player" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his experience was evident to the fore," said the former international coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was likely the standout Australian performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent skillset and he's such a good competitor."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong option at the number 15 position, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was placing the possession back on them to gain territory.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out operated smoothly and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But possibly most satisfying for the manager was Ireland framing the match with two impressive spells.

The player's initial two scores occurred in the first eleven moments while other teammates scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home side finished on a high.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and approached the game right from the word go," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed various elements throughout the game, especially the opposition coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being across most of our game in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal conclusion to last year's tied multiple match series on opposition soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach a higher standard to beat the back-to-back title holders, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a important advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their fall campaign.