Steve Borthwick has spoken of the pain of England's last-gasp 48-46 defeat to France, which left them fifth in the Six Nations table. The head coach said the hurt could drive the team forward, despite a campaign that fell short of expectations.
Borthwick expressed disappointment for players and supporters, noting the match was 'so close to being a special day'. He acknowledged the team's high aspirations were not met, but stressed a determination to use the pain to strengthen the squad in future.
The coach highlighted discipline as a key area for improvement, stating that when England keep 15 men on the field they look a very good team. He also questioned some second-half refereeing decisions, particularly the buildup to Louis Bielle-Biarrey's fourth try, where a penalty advantage was changed to a knock-on advantage without the players' knowledge.
Borthwick confirmed he would seek explanations from the game's authorities regarding the officiating. Captain Maro Itoje echoed the sentiment, insisting the team is going places despite the disappointing finish.
France coach Fabien Galthié praised Thomas Ramos's match-winning kick and compared Bielle-Biarrey to Antoine Dupont, calling him an 'unbelievable weapon' and predicting he will be named tournament's best player.
