Ireland v South Africa: Andy Farrell enjoying the Springboks game

After a frustrating defeat to New Zealand and a crushing win over Japan, Ireland returned to almost their best against the Wallabies, with McHansen scoring a hat-trick in the first half before Caelan Doris, Ryan Bird and Robbie Henshaw tried in the second half.

But Farrell insists his players must find a better performance to deny the Boks a first win in Dublin since 2012.

“I don’t think that would necessarily be enough, but I like the way we got out of our own way,” Farrell added.

“Last week, after making some mistakes, we dug ourselves a little deeper and that didn’t happen this week because there were too many mistakes.

“That’s always going to happen in a rugby Test match anyway, no matter what the circumstances are. I think that’s the most satisfying part for me.”

Ireland have won four of their past five meetings with South Africa, but Rassie Erasmus’s side arrived in Dublin having beaten France and Italy despite first-half red cards in both matches.

South Africa’s win over Six Nations champions France in Paris was particularly eye-catching as they put in a stunning second-half performance to win 32-17 after trailing by a point at the break after Loude de Jager’s red card.

Asked what he likes most about the Boks from a coaching point of view, Farrell said: “I think their energy and enthusiasm, which is probably driven from a few different points, one is defense as well as line speed, one is the breakdown and one is set-pieces.

“They get their energy from all those parts because they do them really well.

“They know their DNA but are able to add some tricks as well with the type of individuals they have in their warehouse.”

Farrell expects Gary Ringrose and Josh van der Flier to be available for selection again, but Stuart McCloskey could miss the game after being forced off against Australia with a recurrence of a groin injury.