Borthwick urges ‘excellent’ Smith to bounce back in All Blacks finale

Borthwick urges ‘excellent’ Smith to bounce back in All Blacks finale

‘It happens,’ says England head coach of missed kicksSaints’ Emmanuel Iyogun to replace injured Joe Marler

Steve Borthwick has told Marcus Smith “not to dwell” on Saturday’s disappointing 16-15 first Test defeat to the All Blacks and has backed his fly-half to bounce back from the missed kicks which ended up costing England the possibility of a rare victory in New Zealand.

Smith was unable to slot three crucial kicks which could have propelled his team to their first win on Kiwi soil since 2003, with the hosts now guaranteed to retain the Hillary Shield ahead of the second and final Test on Saturday. The All Blacks have not lost at Eden Park in Auckland for the past 30 years.

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