Six Nations: England must use their agony to fuel their World Cup charge

It is rarely wise to make a case for the gallant loser.

Too much emotion involved.

Too much romantic attachment.

And England are sick to the back teeth of doing so.

They will seek no refuge in self-delusion, take no comfort from their role in the greatest day of championship rugby ever seen, be it five or six nations in competition.

All that is the domain of the neutral, not of the protagonist.

We can whoop and holler but England will grind their teeth.

Good on them.

Self-awareness will make them all the stronger.

As it needs to do.

• Brian Moore: England have only thems…