Steve Borthwick’s England must stop hiding and face a few home truths | Robert Kitson

After losing another game they should have won, England need fresh impetus if they are to avoid a dismal autumn

Let’s kick off with some good news. The Twickenham experience has been a slightly variable one in recent years but the vibe inside the now-retitled stadium on Saturday was a considerable improvement. A deep rumbling bass shook the concrete stands, adding to the thunderous feel of the whole occasion. And broadcasting the referee’s musings over the public address – why has that taken so long? – was unquestionably a welcome development, too.

The positives do not stop there. What a dramatic endgame it was. And how skilfully New Zealand prised open the coffin lid having seemed all but dead and buried. If the match-turning try by Mark Tele’a with four minutes left was a stunning intervention, what about the towering touchline conversion from Damian McKenzie which ended up separating the two teams? How good was Wallace Sititi? This was not a match defined wholly by missed opportunities.

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Steve Borthwick’s England must stop hiding and face a few home truths | Robert Kitson

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Related

Steve Borthwick opts for continuity but wants fast and furious England | Robert Kitson

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