Donal Lenihan: Time to start adding depth and shoring up the key positions

When Farrell sits down to review the campaign, he will happily park the silverware and focus instead on what tweaks are required to make sure Ireland’s attacking blueprint keeps evolving.

Ireland captain Peter O'Mahony and Ireland head coach Andy Farrell after the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

It said every about the topsy turvy nature of this years's Six Nations championship that heading into the final weekend, France had a mathematical chance of winning it outright with a big win over England, but there was also the prospect of them finishing fifth if Italy delivered a comprehensive win over Wales and the French lost to England.

That scenario came within a whisker of happening but France were ultimately saved by a late Thomas Ramos penalty in an exhilarating contest in Lyon after the Italians turned up for a third game in a row, delivering a brilliant performance in their complete domination of Wales.