{"id":14966,"date":"2024-03-17T05:19:22","date_gmt":"2024-03-17T05:19:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/six-nations-2024-england-are-heading-in-right-direction-says-steve-borthwick\/"},"modified":"2024-03-17T05:19:23","modified_gmt":"2024-03-17T05:19:23","slug":"six-nations-2024-england-are-heading-in-right-direction-says-steve-borthwick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/six-nations-2024-england-are-heading-in-right-direction-says-steve-borthwick\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Nations 2024: England are heading in ‘right direction’ says Steve Borthwick"},"content":{"rendered":"


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England lost a thrilling match in France but have proved they can compete with the best sides in the world, says head coach Steve Borthwick.<\/span><\/p>\n

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France won 33-31<\/span><\/a> thanks to a late Thomas Ramos penalty as England finished third in the Six Nations.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The narrow defeat came after <\/span>England beat Six Nations champions Ireland<\/span><\/a> at Twickenham last weekend.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I am proud, but disappointed we didn’t get the win,” Borthwick told BBC 5 Live.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We have shown in the last two weeks we are competing with the top four teams again.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We don’t want to just compete, we want to win. It’s a step in the right direction.”<\/span><\/p>\n

England only won two games and finished fourth in Borthwick’s first Six Nations campaign as head coach last year, and he introduced several new players this year following their third-place finish at the World Cup.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the opening three rounds of the Six Nations, Borthwick’s new-look side only scored six tries as they struggled in attack.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, seven tries against Ireland and France, who are ranked two and four in the world, and finished first and second in the Six Nations, shows significant progress.<\/span><\/p>\n

Centre Ollie Lawrence scored either side of the break to hand England the advantage in Lyon before tries from Marcus Smith and Tommy Freeman looked to have sealed victory.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Ramos struck in the final moments to deny England second place in the standings.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I am really disappointed for the players, they worked so hard, and for the supporters who were magnificent,” Borthwick added.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I am immensely proud, you can see how the shirt is getting lighter.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Sometimes you have to stay in the fight and we saw that. If we had one more opportunity we could have got that score.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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‘Deja vu from Pollard’s World Cup penalty ‘<\/h3>\n

Captain Jamie George said France’s victory reminded him of last autumn’s World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa when Handre Pollard’s kick from a similar position knocked them out of the tournament.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I’m gutted about the result,” he said. “There was a lot to be very pleased about and very proud of. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Fair play to France for coming back and getting that penalty at the end and fair play to Ramos for knocking it over.<\/span><\/p>\n

“There was a bit of deja vu from the Pollard penalty a few month ago. That’s always going to be tough to take but there’s so much to be proud of over the last few weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We genuinely feel like this team is on and upward curve and we’re going somewhere.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The Saracens hooker, 33, has overseen his first Six Nations as captain following Owen Farrell’s decision to step away from the international game.<\/span><\/p>\n

George, whose mother Jane passed away before the team’s match against Scotland, praised Borthwick and his team-mates for their support.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It has been the highlight of my career doing this [captaincy],” George told BBC Radio 5 Live. “It’s such a special thing with such special people with the staff and the players.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It’s a young, hungry group and I’m so pleased to have played a part in that.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It has been a tough time off the field but the group have rallied around me and looked after me, and that is the sign of a very special group,”<\/span><\/p>\n

England’s Six Nations results<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/thead>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Result<\/span><\/td>\nHalf-time<\/span><\/td>\nTry-scorers<\/span><\/td>\nBonus points<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Italy 24-27 England<\/span><\/td>\nTrailed 17-14<\/span><\/td>\nDaly, Mitchell<\/span><\/td>\n0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
England 16-14 Wales<\/span><\/td>\nTrailed 14-5<\/span><\/td>\nDingwall, Earl<\/span><\/td>\n0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scotland 30-21 England<\/span><\/td>\nTrailed 17-13<\/span><\/td>\nFurbank, Feyi-Waboso<\/span><\/td>\n0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
England 23-22 Ireland<\/span><\/td>\nTrailed 8-12<\/span><\/td>\nLawrence, Furbank, Earl<\/span><\/td>\n0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
France 33-31 England<\/span><\/td>\nTrailed 16-10<\/span><\/td>\nLawrence (2), Smith, Freeman<\/span><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n