England sign off as the great entertainers after nailing plan of attack

CONFLICT resolution definitely comes easier than scoring seven tries in a fortnight against two of the best Test teams in the world.

- Nick Purewal

Workaholic England boss Steve Borthwick has always been happy to do things the hard way, though, and so it proved in a turbulent but progressive Six Nations.

England’s coaching staff endured some tense moments across the last two months, thrashing out some differences in a bid to nail down the future Red Rose blueprint.

At the end of sometimes terse summits and strategising sessions, England put three tries past Ireland and four past France.

England’s search for a new soul has landed on an aggressive, forthright style, where the gambles are calculated to the nth degree by the uber-analytical Borthwick, then followed with glee by the gee-up players.

Suddenly, England are the Test team even the neutrals would pay to watch. Even after two rounds of this tournament, no one would have made such an assertion.

Unconvincing in one-score wins over Italy and Wales, frustratingly inaccurate in losing in Scotland, stunning and nerveless against Ireland, then finally valiant and thrilling, despite defeat by France.

England’s progress is now clear for all to see. The Red Rose coaches and players are relieved to have displayed their plans publicly, too.