Austin Healey not convinced by Steve Borthwick despite spirited England performance in loss to France in Six Nations - 'Something has to change'

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England ended their Six Nations campaign with just a single victory and finished in fifth place in the table following a 48-46 defeat to champions France in a thrilling match in Paris. There have been calls for head coach Steve Borthwick to go, and Austin Healey has reaffirmed his thoughts on that as he called for the RFU to put "somebody more inspirational in charge" of England.

Healey calls for a 'more inspirational' England coach after 'not acceptable' Six Nations

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TNT Sports pundit Austin Healey has reaffirmed his thoughts on Steve Borthwick as England head coach, despite a resurgent performance against Six Nations champions France in the final game of the tournament.

England came so close to spoiling the French title-winning party in a remarkably unpredictable game in Paris.

The hosts needed a last-gasp penalty from Thomas Ramos to secure the trophy for a second year in a row, crushing Irish hopes of a final-day heist after their win over Scotland in Dublin.

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After losing to Scotland, Ireland and Italy in consecutive games, an emphatic loss against Les Bleus may have condemned Borthwick to the axe, but the visitors looked unrecognisable in their 48-46 defeat at the Stade de France.

Despite a stirring display that may have won back some confidence for Borthwick's vision, England finished the championship with four defeats for the first time in Six Nations history.

"It was a fabulous performance. Nick Mullins in commentary said 'Where has this England been?' and it's a question that every England fan has been asking," Healey said before the PREM Rugby Cup final.

'It's time for him to go' - Healey gives scathing Borthwick opinion after Italy humiliation

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In the wake of a chastening first defeat to Italy last weekend, Healey pulled no punches when he said: "I think it's time for Steve to go."

A week on, regardless of their upturn against Fabien Galthie's side, the former Leicester and England winger maintained his thoughts about the head coach.

Healey continued: "The performance looked like the players stamped down what they wanted to do. Some of the pace they played at, Ben Spencer getting the ball away and Jack van Poortvliet when he came on. The intensity in the defence.

"Yes there were still some mistakes and it could have gone England's way, and arguably should have, but they'll look back on the rest of the tournament and think 'Why did we leave it to the last game?'

"I don't change my opinion because of seven days. I didn't come up with it on a whim or because I don't like Steve.

"It's not acceptable, you can't finish with one win in the Six Nations. Great run of 12 games on the bounce, but there's caveats in that.

"There's enough time before the World Cup to put somebody else in place. I'm sure there will be a review at the RFU, look at who else is out there and make changes.

"Is it in the benefit in the team and this group or is it time to make significant changes?

"Maybe Steve stays, maybe other coaches come in. Something has to change because something hasn't been right in this period. And I think there needs to be somebody more inspirational in charge."

England were a different side to the one who limped to defeat at Murrayfield and in Rome, and drastically different to the one who suffered a record loss to Ireland at home.

They dramatically edged ahead with a Tommy Freeman try in the 76th minute, only to concede a final penalty roughly 45 metres from their posts.

England were unlucky that the man stepping up to the tee is arguably the greatest kicker in rugby union currently. Few doubted that Ramos would miss, even with the heavy weight of the title on his shoulders.

"It does [hurt]. It's England's worst Six Nations performance and it'll hurt Steve, the players, the coaches," Ben Kay said alongside Healey.

"But some of what Austin said, for a change, I agree with. A lot of fans are saying 'Sack Steve Borthwick,' but you only do that if you make it better.

"The RFU will have to look at what he says he can do to change it and make sure those three games never happen again.

"But they have to say what are the other options? You don't rush into something and sack someone and go 'Right, what are we going to do?'"

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