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After last week's disappointing showing against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Ireland team to improve their performance.

The team responded 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.

However, facing Australia, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a 46-19 triumph that represented the team's finest performance of the season.

In his debut test match start at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, competed excellently for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult period with injuries honestly," Hansen commented.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this seems like family.

"Any time I get to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not get that opportunity again.

"My whole approach this week was to go out and do what I could do."

Manager stated: 'Good players don't need justifications'

Following twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the initial time with several teammates injured.

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

The experienced player had been in excellent condition before physical issues ended his dream of making the Test team.

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

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the former club player gave his manager a welcome team dilemma for upcoming games.

"Well my first reaction were, 'You better play excellently in those two coloured boots!'," commented the coach, referring to the player's decision to sport different boots.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that himself anyway. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I said to him before the game, 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's got a great approach to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted straight back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

The player's performance also received praise from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the night.

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

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

When asked about what makes the player a strong fit at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

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

"Why that was the correct thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was getting the balls back, and additional players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Another player was outstanding on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and different teammate did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for the manager was the team framing the game with two strong periods.

Hansen's initial two scores came in the first 11 moments while additional teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the other team had scored, ensuring the Irish side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the game straight from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we handled numerous aspects throughout the match, particularly them responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was really satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what might be viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn two-Test series on opposition territory.

The coach's team will need to reach another level to beat the consecutive world champions, but the recent defeat of the Wallabies was a important step in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.