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Following last week's disappointing showing against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland squad to step up their game.

The team listened right away.

Ireland had faded in the final stages against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they began strongly, with the talented back shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that represented the team's finest display of the season.

Making his first test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen registered a hat-trick, competed brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"Look, I've experienced a fairly difficult period with fitness issues really," the athlete commented.

"I missed being in this squad, I understand there's much talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this seems like home.

"Any time I have to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a performance you might not get that privilege again.

"My entire focus this week was to go out and do what I can do."

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

Following 28 appearances on the flank, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 position for the initial time with multiple teammates injured.

In his case, it was essentially a case of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in excellent form before injury ended his aspiration of making the Test squad.

Having come back last month, he suffered a lower body injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

The coach 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 welcome team dilemma for future matches.

"Well my initial thoughts were, 'You better perform well in those different coloured shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to the player's decision to sport mismatched footwear.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but apparently Mack just did that himself regardless. So he's attracted notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good athletes require no justifications, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he fitted right back in and he was capable to perform naturally due to that."

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

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

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout opposition performer on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what makes Hansen a good fit at the number 15 position, the coach added: "Showing up in the center of the pitch is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's aerial work was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of doing the correct approach 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 likes of Hansen who was securing the balls returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

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

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and different teammate did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was Ireland framing the game with multiple strong spells.

The player's first two tries came in the opening eleven minutes while additional players scored in the final stages after the other team had scored, guaranteeing the Irish side finished on a high.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and approached the game straight from the word go," said the coach.

"How we handled various aspects during the match, especially them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to last year's drawn two-Test series on opposition territory.

The coach's team will need to reach a higher level to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant step in the right path after an uninspiring start to their autumn schedule.