England's head coach, Steve Borthwick, remains confident that his team is on the path to success, despite acknowledging the 'painful' experience of a fifth consecutive Test defeat. England's recent performance has been less than stellar, with only four wins in 11 matches this year. Excluding a summer tour game against Japan, their only other victory in the past nine months was a home win against Ireland in March. In contrast, they have suffered losses to Scotland, France, New Zealand (three times), Australia, and now South Africa, causing them to slip to seventh in the world rankings.
Borthwick admitted that the 20-29 loss to the Springboks was another tough pill to swallow, especially after the visitors limited England to just three points in the second half. 'These are challenging days for us,' Borthwick said. 'It's tough and painful, but we will work through it and emerge as a better team.' He also expressed his frustration, feeling the players' and supporters' disappointment keenly. 'While there's much to be proud of, we want to win games. I'm confident we're on the right path and this team has an exciting future. When we move the ball, you can see the talent and pace we have.'
Despite England's recent struggles, Borthwick insisted he still has the full support of the Rugby Football Union. 'The RFU has shown absolute support and belief that this team is heading in the right direction. These painful experiences will be good for the team in the long term. The most impatient people are us, but it's crucial to recognize how strong South Africa is. They are world champions, and their consistency means we must be flawless for every second of the match. Small lapses can have significant consequences, which is what we're addressing with the players.'
England's captain, Jamie George, echoed Borthwick's sentiments. 'We wanted to give the fans three wins from three, of course we did. We created many opportunities against a world-class team. What we need to do is find the fixes to close out these games. I have every confidence in the players and the staff.' However, full-back Freddie Steward pointed out that England's discipline 'had cost us' and that they were not consistent enough at the breakdown.
South Africa's head coach, Rassie Erasmus, praised England's effort, describing the match as 'as competitive as hell.' He also highlighted winger Cheslin Kolbe's performance, calling him a 'special player' who remains humble despite his many accolades. 'We're fortunate to have such a talented group of wingers,' Erasmus added.
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