Steve Borthwick blames inexperience for England's 27-22 loss to Ireland

England head coach Steve Borthwick attributed his team's 27-22 defeat to Ireland in their Six Nations opener to a significant lack of experience compared to their opponents. Despite leading 10-5 at halftime, England struggled in the second half as Ireland scored 22 unanswered points before late tries from Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman allowed England to secure a losing bonus point. Borthwick noted the stark difference in caps, highlighting Ireland's nearly 1,200 caps versus England's just over half that number. He expressed pride in the team's attacking improvements, particularly in the first half, but acknowledged the need to build on their performance as they prepare for a match against France. Maro Itoje, making his captaincy debut, pointed out the team's challenges in maintaining territory during the final quarter. Overall, Borthwick emphasized a commitment to progress despite the disappointing results, with England having lost seven of their last nine Tests.