Six Nations: ‘England’s worst-ever campaign is an unfair label’ after defeat by France

Subtle margins are often the difference between the side that wins the championship and the side that continues to move towards it.

Thomas Ramos’ final penalty that won France the title came after a number of moments that England will remember for some time to come.

Henry Pollock did a great job stealing the ball late on but instead of making contact and securing the ball he tried to move the ball and possession was lost.

Looking back, Ollie Chessum might also think that he could have moved a little closer to the posts to make it easier for Fin Smith, who himself would have been disappointed to leave the points there.

These are the moments you write down and commit to your memory, because when they come up again – as they always do in Test rugby – you want the instinct to be automatic.

The best teams make a habit of winning these moments.

Just look at South Africa in the 2023 World Cup; three knockout wins by a single point.

This is not luck. This is a team that fully understands how to handle pressure.

England had been through a tough period and this performance gave them something real to build on heading into the summer.

When this team meets again to tour South Africa, there must be a real sense of belief.

They showed that they can challenge the best teams in the world. Now it’s all about learning how to turn off those moments of pressure when they come.

Another area that needs attention is opposition analysis.

France beat England several times in the first half with tries directly from set-piece start plays.

This is inexcusable at this level. Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s effort to take the lead is something France have been doing all throughout the championship.

These details are important. Fix those, combine that with the intensity England showed in Paris and suddenly you have a team that not only competes with the best, but is capable of beating the best.