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

The team listened right away.

The Irish side had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's best display this year.

In his first test match appearance at the number 15 position, the player scored a three tries, contested excellently for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've experienced a pretty challenging period with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much discussion about me not exactly being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this feels like family.

"Any time I get to represent for the national team it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you may not get that opportunity again.

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

Coach declared: 'Good athletes don't need justifications'

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

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

The experienced player had been in superb condition before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the international squad.

After returned last month, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for earlier fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these turned out to be not hollow statements as the former club player gave his manager a positive selection headache for future matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You better perform excellently in those different coloured shoes!'," said the coach, referring to the player's decision to sport different footwear.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but it seems Hansen just made that personally regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he trains well, he's has a excellent approach to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right into the team and he was able to be himself due to that."

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

"In my view he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the front," said the former national manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best Australian performer on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a good fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is something that he does from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's better in place for that more often.

"The player's high ball work was excellent, don't you think? I believed we persisted of doing the right thing and that was placing the ball again on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was getting the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

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

Another player was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned smoothly and another player did not appear uncomfortable in his debut appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with multiple impressive periods.

The player's first couple of tries occurred in the first eleven minutes while additional teammates registered in the closing stages after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we truly performed freely and attacked the game right from the word go," said Farrell.

"The way we managed various aspects during the match, particularly them coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being across the majority of our game in that second half was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an informal conclusion to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on opposition soil.

The coach's side will need to reach a higher level to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct direction after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.