Sunday 22 March 2015 10:22, UK
Stuart Lancaster said he had “never seen such a courageous” performance after his England team beat France but just missed out on the Six Nations title after an incredible day of rugby.
The hosts scored seven tries in an enthralling Saturday evening encounter at Twickenham and eventually prevailed 55-35.
However, following Ireland’s 40-10 win in Scotland earlier the day, England needed a 26-point win over France to deny the Irish the title.
And, although half-backs Ben Youngs and George Ford were in electric form, England’s title bid fell agonisingly short when they infringed in the closing seconds, just yards from the try-line.
Head coach Lancaster said: “I want to congratulate Ireland on the championship.
"I'm sure it was a tense affair for them watching up in Scotland. Pretty tense here, if I'm being honest!
We're sat here disappointed, but we've just gone and put 55 points on France, and scored seven tries in the process. To win the game against France is a big target, to win the game by 26 points is a huge target.
"I'm hugely proud of what that England team has shown today and throughout the championship.
"I've never seen such a courageous performance from a group of players.
"We're sat here disappointed, but we've just gone and put 55 points on France, and scored seven tries in the process.
“To win the game against France is a big target, to win the game by 26 points is a huge target.
"We scored a fantastic first try, but the two tries they scored immediately after that put a dent in our belief and confidence for five or 10 minutes.
"We were a little bit guilty of doing what we didn't want to do and that's trying to overplay sometimes, but I guess psychologically, when you've got to win by 26, then it's in the back of the minds.
"It's very hard to try to contextualise the challenge the players faced, of trying to win by 26 points against a team the quality of France.
"To come within a collapsed maul over the line ...”
England have finished second in all four of their Six Nations campaigns under Lancaster but, as he begins to look towards the World Cup this autumn, the head coach was taking the positives from the campaign.
"It's not success,” he said. “But I'm not sure I'd put it as failure.
"Losing against Ireland cost us. The point is that a championship is never won or lost on one moment, on one thing.
"We've come up short again, it's tough to take. But the overriding emotion is one of pride in that performance today.
"Of course, there's things we'll learn and there's things we'll do better.
"We got on the bus just as the Italy-Wales game finished and, when the Italian guy scored in the corner and they kicked the conversion, it's even better. You're thinking '16 points, that's doable'.
"Then you look at Ireland doing what they did to Scotland and you think '26 points - that's a big ask', but we almost did it."
"What we've got to be is more consistent over the full 80 to win a tournament like this or to win a World Cup.
What we've got to be is more consistent over the full 80 to win a tournament like this or to win a World Cup. There's a long time to go between now and September. We'll work hard in June when we meet in camp and we'll be ready when September comes around.
"There's a long time to go between now and September. We'll work hard in June when we meet in camp and we'll be ready when September comes around."
France suffered their third loss of the tournament and finished fourth in the standings, ahead of only Italy and Scotland.
However, head coach Philippe Saint-Andre felt they played their part in an amazing occasion at Twickenham, and rightly observed that the match would have been closer if the visitors had been more accomplished with their goal-kicking.
"It was a great rugby match,” said Saint-Andre. “The French players were great as well as the
English. It was an amazing game.
“In the highest level, when you have the opportunities, you need to score, and again we were Father Christmas. We missed 15 points in kicking and it's difficult to win at Twickenham when you do this."
