All-action hero to the end, no wonder everyone looks up to Lawes

STEVE BORTHWICK stopped talking and pressed play, because words would not cut it.

- Nick Purewal

England’s review of Saturday’s agonising semi-final defeat by South Africa was turning into a tribute to Courtney Lawes.

Rather than wax lyrical on a 14-year Test superstar who might have saved his best international performance for last, Borthwick let the tape tell the story.

Lawes had produced a highlights reel so lengthy that it might equal that of some players’ entire careers — and this was just from one match.

England were still smarting from the last-gasp 16-15 loss when reviewing the match early this week in training.

The impromptu video package in praise of Lawes’ gargantuan performance cut straight through the mood of despondency and frustration.

Here was a snapshot salute to a 105cap stalwart who will surely go down as one of England’s best-ever players.

“As we debriefed last weekend’s game we have been using clips of Courtney, things done so well and things done exactly as we wanted,” said head coach Borthwick.

“He hunts down every loose ball, he chases down attackers and pulls them back in when it seems he has no right to. And yet Courtney has always managed it somehow.”