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Following last week's disappointing showing against Japan, the head coach told his Irish team to improve their performance.

The team listened right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, facing the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's finest performance of the season.

Making his first international start at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've had a fairly challenging period with injuries honestly," Hansen stated.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like family.

"Any time I have to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a performance you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

Manager stated: 'Excellent athletes require no excuses'

After 28 appearances on the flank, the player was given the number 15 role for the initial time with several teammates injured.

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

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of making the international team.

Having returned recently, he suffered a lower body injury that made him unavailable for earlier matches.

The coach had indicated that Hansen was particularly motivated and these turned out to be not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a welcome selection headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You need to play excellently in those two coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to sport mismatched footwear.

"Actually I believed that was appropriate but apparently Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's got a great approach to understand his detail and thus that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself due to that."

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

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the fore," commented the former national coach.

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good competitor."

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

"The player's aerial work was brilliant, wasn't it? I believed we persisted of doing the right thing and that was putting the possession again on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the right thing to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was securing the balls back, and other players, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

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

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the fly-half jersey, the scrum and throw-in operated smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the forwards.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was the team bookending the match with multiple strong periods.

Hansen's initial couple of scores came in the first eleven moments while additional players scored in the final exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a high.

"In my opinion we really let ourselves go and approached the match right from the beginning," said the coach.

"How we managed various elements during the match, particularly them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that second half was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on rival soil.

The coach's side will need to attain a higher level to defeat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the right path after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.