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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Robert Kitson at the Stade de France

‘So close to being a special day’: Borthwick rues agony of England’s France defeat

Maro Itoje, the captain, talks to England’s players after their defeat by France
Maro Itoje, the captain, talks to England’s players after their defeat. He said: ‘I truly believe this team is going places.’ Photograph: Dan Mullan/RFU/The RFU Collection/Getty Images

Steve Borthwick says the pain of England’s last-gasp defeat to France can drive them on to better times despite their unsuccessful Six Nations campaign. Borthwick’s side finished second bottom of this year’s table but came agonisingly close to dashing French title hopes before losing 48-46 in one of the all-time great championship fixtures.

Borthwick, who said he still believed he was “the right man to lead the team forward”, could not hide his disappointment after Thomas Ramos secured a last-gasp home victory with the final kick of an extraordinary game. “I’m really disappointed for the players and supporters … it was so close to being a special day,” he said.

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