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Following their previous underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to improve their game.

Ireland listened immediately.

The Irish side had faded late against the All Blacks and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

However, against Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked Ireland's best display this year.

In his first test match appearance at full-back, Hansen scored a hat-trick, contested brilliantly for high balls and performed exceptionally against the country of his origin.

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

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

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you don't put in a good showing you may not get that privilege again.

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

Coach declared: 'Good athletes require no justifications'

After twenty-eight caps on the wing, Hansen was given the number 15 position for the first time with multiple teammates injured.

For him, it was simply a case of picking up where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before physical issues disrupted his dream of making the Test team.

After returned last month, he developed a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was particularly determined and these proved not empty words as the former club player gave his coach a welcome team headache for future games.

"So my initial reaction were, 'You need to play excellently in those different coloured boots!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

"Actually I thought that was fitting but it seems Mack just did that himself anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he trains well, he's got a great attitude to get across his detail and so that's why he fitted straight back in and he was capable to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also received commendation from the rival manager, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.

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

"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the standout Australian performer on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong option at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the pitch is something that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.

"His aerial play was excellent, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right thing and that was placing the possession back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is because it's the likes of Hansen who was securing the possessions back, and additional teammates, so [it's] quite satisfying."

Outside the star performer, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Another player was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and another player did not look uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for Farrell was the team bookending the match with two impressive periods.

The player's initial couple of tries came in the opening eleven minutes while other players registered in the closing exchanges after the other team had crossed, ensuring the Irish side concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and attacked the match right from the word go," stated Farrell.

"How we handled various aspects throughout the game, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we did in the second half, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our strategy in that later period was really pleasing."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to last year's drawn two-Test contest on opposition soil.

Farrell's team will need to reach another level to beat the consecutive world champions, but Saturday's victory of the Australian team was a significant advancement in the correct path after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.