Steve Borthwick, head coach of England, remained resolute in his assessment following England’s most disappointing Six Nations campaign to date, which concluded with their strongest performance of the tournament. Despite suffering their first-ever loss in four games within a single championship, condemning them to a fifth-place finish, the English squad delivered a significantly improved attacking display against a highly favored French team. The thrilling 94-point, 13-try encounter capped off Super Saturday in dramatic fashion.
England appeared on the verge of an unexpected upset in Paris when Tommy Freeman crossed the try line late in the game. However, the French responded with a last-gasp penalty from Thomas Ramos, kicked as time expired, to secure a nail-biting 48-46 victory. This win not only saw France retain the Six Nations title but also cruelly denied Ireland their championship aspirations.
This latest defeat marked England’s fourth consecutive loss, following significant setbacks against Scotland and Ireland, and a historic maiden loss to Italy. Nevertheless, the team’s spirited performance in the epic clash at the Stade de France is expected to alleviate some of the intense scrutiny surrounding Borthwick’s position. His focus will now shift to the inaugural Nations Championship in July, which will see England travel to South Africa and Argentina, as well as hosting Fiji.
Acknowledging the Opposition and the Game
Borthwick extended his congratulations to the French team, acknowledging them as a formidable opponent. “Firstly, we should congratulate France,” he stated. “They are a tremendous team, they’ve done so well, and it was an excellent game. They are formidable opponents. Huge congratulations to France, [head coach] Fabien [Galthie], and all their team.”
Reflecting on the nature of the match, Borthwick added, “Last year we won it very late in the game; it’s the nature of the games of England versus France. Two very good sides going head to head. An outstanding game of rugby in a brilliant atmosphere here.”
Addressing the Attack and Team Dynamics
When questioned about the delayed emergence of England’s attacking prowess after three successive losses, Borthwick highlighted the importance of team cohesion. “It has taken time to get the relationships within the team; we work those aspects together,” he explained.
He expressed the team’s deep disappointment with their recent results and their desire to secure a positive outcome for their supporters. “We’re bitterly disappointed with the last few weeks, and we wanted to get a great result for our supporters tonight. We’re disappointed that we didn’t get a result for them, but I hope they can be proud of how the team played.”
Discipline and Refereeing Decisions
Borthwick voiced his disagreement with a costly yellow card issued to Ellis Genge just before halftime for collapsing a maul. However, he conceded that England’s discipline needs significant improvement, citing the eight cautions the team received across their five Six Nations matches.
“The yellow cards in this tournament have hurt us,” Borthwick remarked. “But I think that yellow card, the nature of it, is very debatable, as was Henry Arundell’s right at the start in the Scotland game, which World Rugby said shouldn’t have been a yellow card. Unfortunately, a little bit of luck has gone against us on those couple of decisions, but we have to be a lot better than that.”
Looking Ahead with Confidence
Addressing any lingering doubts about his suitability to lead England forward, Borthwick conveyed a clear vision for the team’s future. “I am very clear on the direction of the team. Very clear on what we’ve got to do,” he asserted.
He reiterated the team’s unmet ambitions for the championship. “We wanted to achieve much more in this championship than what we have done, clearly, disappointed for our supporters; we wanted to give them plenty of things to celebrate. We’ve been unable to do that, but we will make sure we do that going forward.”
The upcoming Nations Championship will provide England with an immediate opportunity to demonstrate their progress and rebuild confidence on the international stage. The challenges of facing South Africa and Argentina away from home, alongside hosting Fiji, will serve as crucial tests of their development under Borthwick’s leadership. The team’s performance against France, despite the ultimate result, offers a glimmer of hope and a foundation upon which to build for future success.
