The examination will be rigorous and candid, yet England will not dwell on their 31-20 loss to Scotland on Saturday, as they simply cannot afford to do so.
The harsh reality of the Six Nations dictates that there is no time for lamenting or pondering ‘what if?’… This aspect is what renders the tournament so engaging for supporters and so challenging for the athletes.
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England returned to Pennyhill Park on Sunday, with small-group discussions and individual reflections likely having already occurred. By the time Monday morning arrives, much of the review process will have been completed.
Next, the attention turns to Ireland, a team on the rise after securing their first victory of the campaign against Italy.
“I [review] in diverse ways, and I believe it’s crucial to maintain a variety … To ensure that we have full engagement in our objectives,” Borthwick clarified.
“What I will do is check in with the players tomorrow, assess their state, but [Sunday] night we’ll convene. By then, the players will have conducted their reviews [and] met with their respective coaches.”
Borthwick and the players appeared visibly downcast as they packed up in the depths of Murrayfield Stadium. While the positives may not have been at the forefront of their minds, they were present. The scrum performed well, and Ben Earl, in particular, delivered a commendable performance.
They also have an opportunity to swiftly return to winning ways.
Ordinarily, the tournament would pause for a fallow week after two matches, but this year’s competition is condensed, allowing England to promptly rectify their mistakes.
“We’d dislike entering a fallow week now and trying to recover from a result like that, so it’s ideal,” scrum-half Alex Mitchell stated.
“We have another opportunity against Ireland on Saturday. So again, it’s perfectly timed.”
Mitchell mentioned that despite the physical challenges, morale is high, and he is confident the squad will be prepared for Ireland.
“I personally feel really good. I think the team is in a favorable position,” he remarked. “Obviously, playing Test matches weekly is taxing on the body, but I believe everyone prefers this [tournament] format.
“The fallow week can cause a loss of momentum in the competition. So personally, I appreciate the new structure, and yes, everyone is in a good place.”
Some statistics from Saturday’s match present a bleak picture.
They were outmatched at the breakdown, conceding 20 turnovers compared to Scotland’s six. Borthwick expressed disappointment over his team’s failure to capitalize on opportunities, managing only 1.1 points from nine entries into the 22.
Conversely, these are aspects that this squad recognizes they can improve upon within a week.
The Six Nations provides the chance for an immediate response, but it also means that pressure can accumulate rapidly, especially if they encounter difficulties against Ireland.
