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England’s fourth defeat in a row by Scotland was a “painful experience”, said head coach Steve Borthwick.<\/span><\/p>\n England led 10-0 early on but lost their way as Scotland dominated.<\/span><\/p>\n “This is a painful experience for the team and for England supporters, and we will make sure we learn from it to be better in the future,” said Borthwick.<\/span><\/p>\n England made 24 handling errors and conceded 22 turnovers in a ragged display.<\/span><\/p>\n “When you make that number of handling errors at this level, it’s very difficult to win, especially against a team of Scotland’s quality.<\/span><\/p>\n “Ultimately we made it too easy for Scotland to score, but they were very clinical.<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s a huge lesson for our team as we develop. The number of turnovers made it very difficult to win.”<\/span><\/p>\n Borthwick, who had won nine of his previous 10 games, is rebuilding his team after guiding England to a third-place finish at the World Cup.<\/span><\/p>\n England started well and scored a well-worked try through full-back George Furbank, but only a late score from replacement winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso prevented an even bigger defeat.<\/span><\/p>\n Borthwick pointed to his side’s inexperienced combinations compared to the settled line-up Scotland’s Gregor Townsend put out.<\/span><\/p>\n “We’d all love progression to be a nice linear path but ultimately it’s not, especially when you are trying to do it at this level,” said Borthwick.<\/span><\/p>\n “What you saw is a team that is trying to develop, a team that is trying to add layers to their game.<\/span><\/p>\n “We made errors and got punished – sometimes you get away with it, sometimes you don’t. Against a team like Scotland, you don’t.<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s a big learning experience, it’s a real painful lesson against a Scotland team that’s been together a long time.”<\/span><\/p>\n This was England’s first game using the combination of fly-half George Ford and centres Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade.<\/span><\/p>\n For Scotland, fly-half Finn Russell has played alongside Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones since the 2023 Six Nations.<\/span><\/p>\n “There was a lack of cohesion and too many fundamental errors,” added Borthwick.<\/span><\/p>\n “We know today wasn’t good enough. It is going to take some work and we know that.”<\/span><\/p>\n England’s next match is at Twickenham against impressive Six Nations leaders Ireland before they finish their campaign away to France.<\/span><\/p>\n Borthwick’s side will have to win one of those games to avoid finishing a fourth successive Six Nations with only two wins from their five games.<\/span><\/p>\n “Off the back of this, what is really important is that this Six Nations doesn’t unravel,” former England wing Ugo Monye said on BBC One.<\/span><\/p>\n “England can’t end the Six Nations by losing three in a row.”<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Borthwick’s side were behind against both Italy and Wales in the opening two rounds at half-time but came back to win.<\/span><\/p>\n Captain Jamie George said the opening period at Murrayfield was “the best” he has seen his side play for a “little while”.<\/span><\/p>\n “We really felt in a good way coming into this,” George said.<\/span><\/p>\n “In games, we’ve lacked foundation and made life hard for ourselves but the first 20 minutes of the game is probably the best I’ve seen us play for a little while.<\/span><\/p>\n “I don’t have any issues with how we played in the first half but then we were a little bit loose in terms of the ball. We gave the ball to Finn Russell and Van der Merwe and they can create magic, and they did that.”<\/span><\/p>\nEngland’s Six Nations must not unravel – Monye<\/h3>\n
‘Loose’ England punished after bright start<\/h3>\n