Steve Borthwick, England’s head coach, will have mixed feelings about the almost-imminent British and Irish Lions tour to Australia. He will be pleased that his team’s second place in this year’s Six Nations will have bolstered the selection case for many of his charges.

It is hard to argue against the view England ended the Six Nations with their most complete performance in recent memory, and certainly in the tenure of Steve Borthwick. Indeed, some even have gone as far as to say the demolition of Wales was one of England’s best performances ever in the championship.

Speaking after the final whistle against England, Sherratt revealed that Borthwick approached him to offer a crumb of comfort in the immediate aftermath of the chastening defeat.