Rugby: Rugby – Borthwick hails England’s ‘tangible reward’

LONDON (Reuters) – England coach Steve Borthwick has been talking about signs of progress for a while and so he was particularly delighted to see it count on the scoreboard with a statement 23-22 Six Nations victory over odds-on favourites Ireland on Saturday.

England scored excellent tries through Ollie Lawrence, George Furbank and Ben Earl but needed a last-minute drop goal by Marcus Smith to get the victory their performance deserved.

“I’m really pleased for the players,” Borthwick said. “They have worked exceptionally hard and been progressing each week but to get the tangible reward of a victory was important for them and the supporters – Twickenham was magnificent tonight.

“Sometimes it’s visible and everyone sees it and sometimes it’s not but we knew we were moving forward. It’s an important step in the evolution of the team, but it is a step and we have to take another next week.”

England travel to France in the final match of the championship next Saturday hunting their first title since 2020, though Ireland, four points ahead in the standings and hosting Scotland, remain favourites.

“After the defeat by Scotland the players stayed true to the path we wanted and that takes a lot of courage. I want an improved performance against France next week,” Borthwick said.

“The intensity the players had from first minute to the last was a step forward and that has to become a hallmark of this team. I was particularly pleased how, in the middle of the game, Ireland changed things and our players reacted on the grass, and it needed a big adjustment.”

Captain Jamie George watched the latter stages from the sidelines after being replaced by Theo Dan.

“I was in awe of the boys on the field, the composure they showed,” he said. “We didn’t panic at any stage. It was a bit emotional at the end but I was so proud of the boys.

“That is what we have been trying to do, the sort of team we want to be and the courage to trust the plan and when you have special players special things will happen.”

Man of the match Earl had a message for the doubters.

“Unbelievable really, I am a bit emotional because Jamie lost his mum recently and we have spoken a lot about that,” he said in a pitch-side interview.

“Then Danny’s (Care) 100th cap, and some of the rubbish that has been thrown at this team in the past week, apparently we are ‘the worst England team ever’ – we have done well for that accolade.

“We knew from the beginning if we played our best game we would have a chance. Everything came together today. I am just so pleased, that’s where we can take this team.”

(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Ed Osmond)