A global season that began on 5 August in Cardiff ended for England on Saturday in Auckland with a sense of deja vu within the air.
Identical to in Dunedin every week earlier, England had stayed within the combat admirably within the first half, rallying both facet of the break to take management and threaten to tug off a historic win, earlier than frustratingly fading within the last quarter because the All Blacks bench proved decisive.
So how ought to England supporters view the 2-0 sequence defeat? A tour that confirmed Steve Borthwick’s facet are shifting in the best path? Or an enormous missed alternative?
“Completely each,” stated skipper Jamie George, who led the group with distinction on his first tour as captain.
England have performed South Africa, Eire and France over the previous eight months, along with two video games towards New Zealand. The combination rating towards these prime 4 sides on this planet is 101-111, with one slim win and 4 slim defeats.
“We’re positively trending in the best path,” vice-captain Henry Slade stated.
“We’re pushing the highest 4 sides now and getting higher and higher week by week.”
The problem for England now could be to get on the best facet of those tussles.
“I don’t wish to revisit errors,” mirrored Borthwick on Sunday in downtown Auckland, shortly earlier than beginning the lengthy journey house through Sydney and Singapore.
“In every of these video games, we’ve been ready late within the sport in a number one place on the scoreboard.”