Hansen delivers brilliant performance as Irish squad answer to Farrell's demand
Following their previous underwhelming performance against Japan, the head coach told his Ireland team to improve their game.
The team listened right away.
Ireland had faded in the final stages against New Zealand and required most of the match to get going versus their Asian opponents.
However, against the Wallabies, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen excelling most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented the team's finest display this year.
Making his first international start at full-back, the player registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his origin.
"Look, I've had a pretty challenging run with injuries really," the athlete commented.
"I longed for being in this squad, I know there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this seems like family.
"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you might not receive that privilege again.
"My whole focus this week was to take the field and perform what I can do."
Coach stated: 'Good athletes require no justifications'
Following twenty-eight caps on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with multiple players injured.
For him, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.
The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury disrupted his aspiration of making the Test squad.
After come back recently, he suffered a lower body problem that made him unavailable for earlier fixtures.
Farrell had suggested that Hansen was particularly determined and these proved not empty words as the ex- provincial player gave his manager a positive selection dilemma for upcoming matches.
"So my first reaction were, 'You need to play excellently in those different colored shoes!'," said Farrell, referring to the player's decision to sport mismatched boots.
"Actually I believed that was fitting but apparently Hansen just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even begun.
"I told to him before the game, 'Good players require no justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can get the player of the game if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I agree.'
"Therefore he's that type of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a excellent attitude to understand his preparation and thus that's why he fitted right back in and he was able to perform naturally because of that."
Hansen's efforts also received commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the evening.
"I thought he was super, his knowledge showed to the fore," said the ex- international manager.
"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the standout Australian player on the field. He's has a great skillset and he's such a strong competitor."
Pressed about what makes Hansen a good fit at full-back, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he does from the wing regardless, but I imagine he's more in position for that frequently.
"The player's high ball work was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was placing the ball back on them to gain field position.
"Why that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the likes of Mackie who was securing the possessions returned, and other players, so [it's] quite satisfying."
Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.
Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his comeback to the number 10 position, the set piece and line-out operated smoothly and different player did not appear out of place in his debut appearance in the forwards.
But perhaps most satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with multiple strong spells.
The player's initial couple of tries occurred in the first 11 minutes while other teammates scored in the closing stages 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," stated the coach.
"How we handled numerous aspects during the game, especially them responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being across most of our game in that later period was really satisfying."
The might of the Springboks are next up for Ireland, in what might be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on opposition territory.
The coach's team will need to attain another level to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring beginning to their fall schedule.