“The biggest lesson to learn is the ability that the players have developed to stay in the fight,” said coach Steve Borthwick after the late success acquired by England against the Welsh (16-14) on Saturday at the Six Nations Tournament.
The English played at a double disadvantage (two yellow cards) in the first half, were trailing 14-5 at the break but they managed to win their second match in a row at the Six Nations Tournament with a successful second half. “It’s a team that stays in the fight and a team that manages to find a solution. At half-time, we were very calm and clear about what we had to do, with the certainty that we were going to achieve it,” summarized the coach in the post-match conference.
Bortwhick revealed that the team had set itself, under the leadership of second row Maro Itoje, the objective of not exceeding seven penalties conceded in the match. “They made it a little complicated after conceding six in the first half, but in the second we only conceded one so they succeeded,” he noted. Alongside him, captain Jamie George also saw “progress” in defense, often an Achilles heel on the English side. “The foundations that we have laid allow us to have confidence”, and “we have the right people in the right place”, highlighted the Saracens hooker.
As for the atmosphere at Twickenham, “I loved every second, from entering the pitch to the final whistle. The supporters seemed to have had a great day, which is what we wanted.” On the Welsh side, the post-match mood oscillated between disappointment at having lost and pride at having competed. “I am proud of the performance and the efforts made by the players, but we are disappointed not to come away with victory,” said coach Warren Gatland, at the head of a rejuvenated team (25 years on average). age). “I told the players that we’re not there yet, but that we’re going to be a damn good team,” the New Zealander also said. “Today’s match is part of the learning process. Sometimes it takes time.”
Wales have not won against England at Twickenham in the Six Nations Tournament since 2012. “It’s a special match, when you grow up you want to play it but we lost,” said Captain Dafydd Jenkins (21 years old), “extremely disappointed” by the outcome of the fight.
