Following their previous disappointing showing against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Irish team to step up their performance.
Ireland responded right away.
Ireland had struggled in the final stages against the All Blacks and required most of the match to find their rhythm versus their Asian opponents.
However, facing Australia, they began strongly, with the talented back shining most prominently during a comprehensive triumph that represented Ireland's finest performance this year.
In his first test match start at full-back, the player registered a three tries, contested excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the nation of his birth.
"You know, I've experienced a fairly challenging period with injuries honestly," the athlete stated.
"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's much discussion about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this group and this seems like family.
"Whenever I get to play for the national team it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not receive that opportunity again.
"My entire approach this week was to take the field and do what I can do."
Manager declared: 'Excellent players don't need excuses'
Following 28 caps on the wing, Hansen was given the full-back position for the initial time with several players unavailable.
In his case, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he left off during the summer.
The experienced player had been in superb form before injury ended his dream of making the Test squad.
Having come back last month, he suffered a foot problem that made him unavailable for earlier matches.
The coach had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive team headache for future matches.
"So my initial reaction were, 'You better play well in those two coloured boots!'," said the coach, alluding to Hansen's decision to sport different footwear.
"In fact I thought that was fitting but it seems Hansen just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.
"I said to him before the game, 'Good players require no justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you choose,' and he went, 'Yeah, I concur.'
"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he prepares thoroughly, he's has a excellent approach to understand his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight back in and he was able to be himself due to that."
The player's performance also earned praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "exceptional Australian player" on the night.
"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge showed to the front," said the ex- international manager.
"Regrettably, Hansen was probably the standout opposition performer on the pitch. He's got a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."
Pressed about what enables Hansen a good fit at full-back, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the field is a trait that he does from the wing anyway, but I suppose he's better in position for that frequently.
"The player's high ball play was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of doing the right thing and that was placing the possession again on them to secure field position.
"Why that was the correct strategy to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was securing the possessions returned, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."
Outside the star performer, there were multiple positives for Farrell.
Sam Prendergast was excellent on his comeback to the number 10 position, the scrum and line-out functioned smoothly and another player did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the front row.
But perhaps more satisfying for Farrell was Ireland bookending the match with two strong periods.
Hansen's first couple of scores came in the first eleven moments while other players scored in the closing exchanges after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the Irish side concluded on a high.
"In my opinion we truly performed freely and approached the match straight from the word go," stated the coach.
"The way we handled various elements throughout the match, particularly the opposition responding just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and producing a display like we did in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being across the majority of our strategy in that second half was truly pleasing."
The strength of South Africa are awaiting for the team, in what could be viewed as an informal conclusion to last year's drawn multiple match series on rival territory.
The coach's side will require to attain another standard to defeat the consecutive world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.
