The very best landings are always done by hand. The autoland is good, but in order to get the smoothest touchdowns you leave the power on in the flare for longer than normal to minimise the rate of descent (making it almost zero at the touchdown point). This however (I understand) is not 'good' technique because it eats up runway and in the wet means the plane doesn't make very good contact with the runway.
Just before landing at around 50ft or so the engines were neatly "flared" which led to the peachiest touch down.
What do you mean by 'flared'? Flaring is done with the elevators by raising the nose slightly to arrest the sink rate just before touchdown. Usually the power is brought to idle at about 50-30ft (although later if you a trying to 'grease'). Sometimes as well (this may be what you mean) a bust of power a split second before touchdown can help (although it works better on pistons because of the better power response).