Ireland finished off their Six Nations campaign with a bonus-point victory over Italy in Rome on Saturday.
However, the 22-17 scoreline gave some insight into how that victory was not as comprehensive as one might have initially expected from Simon Easterby's side.
They found themselves 7-0 down early on thanks to a tidy breakaway try from Monty Ioane.
Hugo Keenan equalised little over ten minutes later but Ireland's first-half performance was anything but assured. It would take them until just before half-time and the sin-bin of Michelle Lamaro before Dan Sheehan put them ahead for the first time.
HT Italy 10-12 Ireland
A yellow card for Michele Lamaro just before the break leads to a second Irish try
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Sheehan would add another two in the second half to put Ireland on their way to a bonus-point victory.
However, Ange Capuozzo's try with 20 minutes to play put Italy back within a score of Ireland, and it was to be an unnecessarily nervy finish for Easterby's men.
A Six Nations campaign that started with such a ruthless victory over England has ultimately come to something of a whimpering finish. Barring two miracles in Cardiff and Paris later today, it appears certain Ireland will finish 3rd after back-to-back titles in the past two years.
(At the time of writing, with England 14-0 up in the Principality, that miracle seems even more unlikely.)
Speaking on ITV post-match, Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll suggested that a "hangover" from last week's drubbing by France had only exacerbated the lacklustre conclusion to this year's Six Nations against Italy.
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Brian O'Driscoll muses on Ireland performance v Italy
It has not been the conclusion to the Six Nations most Ireland fans would have been expecting after their comprehensive early wins over England and Scotland.
Brian O'Driscoll mused on their struggles at full-time of Saturday's nervy victory in Rome, and admitted that there had been a severe lack of quality despite their four-try win.
In a word: no [that wasn't a championship-worthy performance].
Last week obviously certainly wasn't that. I'll tell you what it does show, it shows how hard that this competition is. Ireland have gone and won four from five and there's every likelihood that they could finish 3rd in the competition.
I think Dave Flatman got it right in commentary, he said, 'This was about geting the job done.'
There's very little to hang your hat on in terms of quality there...there were errors, you lacked continuity, timing of runs. They just looked a little bit off the pace.
O'Driscoll went on to suggest that last week's humbling by France had "deflated" Ireland, and that the knowledge that their Six Nations fate was out of their hands had hampered their performance on Saturday.
It was the second part of O'Driscoll's take that should cause concern for Ireland fans. Though there was a point to prove after last weekend's difficult day against the French, the performance was once again lacking, continuing a seriously worrying trend.
They looked a little bit like it was a hangover from last week that totally deflated [them], with the knowledge it was out of their hands.
They've done all that could be expected of them in getting five points but they only just got it done. It was 22-17 at the end of the game.
We were all taking deep breaths as Italy got possession at the end. It could have been snatched from them. They were better than the scoreline today, but only a little bit.
Ireland's closing three performances in this tournament have been far below the level we have expected, and morale would appear to be low - certainly judging by Brian O'Driscoll's comments.
The key question after this Six Nations - and after the nerves against Italy - will be what needs to change for this Ireland team to return to their best.
It is a question Andy Farrell will have to grapple with on his return from Lions duties.
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