In a frustrating month for the England senior side, a 38-17 win for the A team over their Australian counterparts will have offered some positivity. It may also have provided a window into the future,

England full-back Freddie Steward has defended under-fire head coach Steve Borthwick and said it’s the players who should be blamed for the defeat to South Africa. The Red Roses lost a fifth consecutive Test match as they went down 29-20 at Allianz Stadium, prompting speculation over Borthwick’s position.

The diagnosis of England’s malaise should not require a torturous debrief ... Tests that they cannot even conjure inspiration against 14 men. No wonder Steve Borthwick looked haggard at the end: his team’s sheer bone-headedness in the last 11 minutes ...