James Haskell summed up a famliar England feeling during this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship by declaring: "We made it hard work for ourselves."
Wasps flanker Haskell's reaction mirrored the mood of England supporters at Stadio Flaminio after the World Cup finalists almost blew another commanding lead.
Eight days earlier, they went from 19-6 up against Twickenham visitors Wales to lose by seven points, but here they eventually eclipsed Italy 23-19 after cruising 14 points clear at the break.
Italy "won" the second period 13-3, moving to within a try of claiming their first victory over England at the 14th attempt.
And although Haskell and company will move on to Paris on Saturday week with a win in the bank, few Red Rose followers can feel optimistic about their chances against a revitalised French outfit under new Les Bleus coach Marc Lievremont.
Haskell said: "I thought we made it hard work for ourselves again. We only got three points in the second half, and we have to address that.
"When you have a controlling first half, as we did again, it is very difficult to come out for the second half and not build on that.
"I can't answer why that is.
"If you look at it, penalties and turnovers put extra pressure on you. Italy are a good side, and if you give them an inch they will take a mile.
"We had to keep doing what we were doing and be really ruthless, yet we made personal errors and kept putting pressure on ourselves.
"The players are not content with it. We are looking to build leads in games, and we have got a lot of work to do."
England started promisingly, claiming early converted tries by wing Paul Sackey and centre Toby Flood, but although fly-half Jonny Wilkinson collected 13 points - and passed 1,000 for England in the process - they flattered to deceive.
Full-back David Bortolussi kept Italy in the game through four penalties, befoe converting substitute scrum-half Simon Picone's try when Danny Cipriani had an attempted clearance charged down.
But England head coach Brian Ashton said: "At no stage was I on the sidelines thinking 'Jesus Christ, we are going to throw this away'.
"Italy is not an easy place to play rugby. But at least we were able to get on the Six Nations scoreboard. I didn't fear we were going to lose.
"We finished the game on the Italian line, and we learned from last weekend that games end in the 80th minute.
"I think the Italian forwards stepped up their game at half-time. What we could not do was establish field position, and that is worrying.
"The disappointment was we didn't push forward at half-time. We haven't had the best second halves in the last two games.
"But I had to make six changes to the team in respect to our opening game, and that has not allowed us to get continuity.
"But I am looking forward to the game against France. It's another challenge, and we know we will step up our game."
Ashton also explained his reasons for selecting Steve Borthwick to replace Phil Vickery, who had a stomach bug, as captain.
"Given the circumstances of the late change, I just thought it was the best decision for the game," he said.
"I knew it was going to be a physical game, and I felt it was important to have a leader in the front five."
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