Steve Borthwick makes England admission after worst-ever Six Nations as head coach faces sack
England head coach Steve Borthwick has admitted his squad is “hurting” following the conclusion of their most disappointing Six Nations campaign on record.
The tournament ended with an agonising 48-46 loss to France in the French capital on Saturday evening.
Despite crossing the try line six times in what proved to be their strongest showing of the championship, England fell short when Thomas Ramos slotted a penalty during a frantic overtime period.
Tommy Freeman’s late try had appeared to secure victory, but the dramatic finish instead sealed a fourth consecutive defeat.
England finished fifth, managing just a single victory against Wales in the opening round.
Head coach Borthwick said: “I’m really proud of the way the players played, but ultimately we’re gutted that we went into the tournament with such high expectations and aspirations and we’ve not been able to meet those targets.
“It’s been a painful tournament and we’re all hurting. I know the supporters are hurting as well. We wanted to make sure they had wins to celebrate and we weren’t able to give that.
“Everyone involved in the team cares so deeply, so the immediate reflection is one of huge disappointment. There’s a sense of determination to make sure that this hurt makes the team stronger in the future.”
England head coach Steve Borthwick has admitted his squad is ‘hurting’
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The match was marred by contentious refereeing calls that Borthwick intends to raise with World Rugby.
Ellis Genge received a yellow card for collapsing a maul during first-half stoppage time, with referee Nika Amashukeli simultaneously awarding France a penalty try, wiping out England’s 10-point advantage.
Further frustration came when England attacked, believing they held a penalty advantage, only for the TMO to overturn the decision.
France capitalised on the resulting turnover, with Louis Bielle-Biarrey touching down for his fourth try of the match.
Borthwick now faces an RFU review of the campaign
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Borthwick said: “I think some of the decisions are debatable.
“The decision against Henry Arundell at the start of the Scotland game in round two was confusing at best.
“I thought that one against Ellis to give a penalty try – I don’t follow it. I’ll ask for it to be explained to me.
“For the scrum knock on, the players on the pitch were told it was a penalty advantage so they played in a certain manner knowing they had a penalty to go back to.”
England’s spirited performance in Paris may have strengthened Borthwick’s position
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He added: “Unfortunately, what happened in the background is the TMO changed it to a knock-on advantage. The players were unaware of it and France go down the other end and score a try.
“World Rugby needs to look at that kind of situation because you can’t have the players playing with certain knowledge and then it being taken away from them.”
Borthwick now faces an RFU review of the campaign, though England’s spirited performance in Paris may have strengthened his position.
He said: “I believe I’m the right man to lead the team going forward.”
