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

Fine margins are often the difference between a title-winning side and one still gunning for it.

Thomas Ramos’s final penalty kick to win the tournament for France came after a few moments that England will relive in their minds for a while.

Henry Pollock made a brilliant steal of the ball late, but instead of making contact and securing it, he tried to move it and lost the ball.

Ollie Chisum may also look back and think he could have been a little closer to the posts to make the kick easier for Finn Smith, who himself would have been frustrated by leaving the points there.

Those are the moments you write down and commit to memory, because when they come again – which is what always happens in Test rugby – you want the instinct to be automatic.

The best teams make it a habit to win those moments.

Just look at South Africa in the 2023 World Cup, where they won three times by knockout by a single point.

This is not luck. This is a team that understands exactly how to manage pressure.

England have been through a difficult period and this performance gives them something real to build on heading into the summer.

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

They have shown that they can challenge the best teams in the world. Now it’s about learning how to end those moments of stress when they come.

Another area that will need attention is opposition analysis.

France exposed England several times in the first half with direct attempts from set-pieces.

At this level, this is unforgivable. Chasing down Louis-Bel-Billard for kicks is something France have done throughout the tournament.

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