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After their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, the head coach challenged his Irish squad to improve their game.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had struggled late against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.

Nevertheless, against Australia, they started strongly, with the talented back excelling most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that marked Ireland's best display of the season.

Making his first test match start at full-back, the player registered a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

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

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this team and this seems like home.

"Whenever I get to play for Ireland it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that opportunity again.

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

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

After 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with several teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent condition before physical issues ended his dream of joining the international team.

After returned last month, he developed a foot injury that made him unavailable for previous matches.

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

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to play well in those two colored shoes!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to wear different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but apparently Mack just made that personally regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the game, 'Excellent players don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares well, he's got a great attitude to get across his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's efforts also earned commendation from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition player" on the evening.

"In my view he was super, his experience was evident to the front," said the ex- international coach.

"Regrettably, Mack was likely the standout Australian player on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong option at full-back, Farrell added: "Appearing in the center of the field is a trait that he does from the flank regardless, but I suppose he's more in position for that more often.

"The player's aerial play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the right approach and that was placing the possession back on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the correct thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and other players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the set piece and line-out functioned effectively and another player did not look uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But possibly most pleasing for the manager was Ireland bookending the match with multiple impressive periods.

The player's first couple of tries occurred in the opening 11 moments while other teammates registered in the final exchanges after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a high.

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

"The way we managed numerous elements throughout the game, especially them responding just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as field position and being across the majority of our game in that second half was truly satisfying."

The strength of South Africa are next up for the team, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn multiple match series on opposition territory.

Farrell's side will need to attain another level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn schedule.