England assistant coach Andy Farrell has claimed that the younger players in the squad will only benefit from their 'devastating' second-place finish in this year's Six Nations championship.
Having seen Ireland record a heavy victory over Scotland earlier in the day, the Red Rose knew heading into their meeting with France that only a 26-point winning margin would do if they were to claim the crown.
Despite producing an inspired display at Twickenham to come out on top 55-35 in the tournament's final game, England fell just short for the fourth year in succession.
Farrell blamed the near miss on a lack of concentration in previous games, with a weaker points difference costing them dearly in the end.
"Those lapses against Italy and Scotland cost us but that performance today was outstanding and you can't get away from it," he told reporters. "We keep saying it - and it isn't an excuse - some of these lads have got to go through it.
"It's an absolute fact that the likes of George Ford, Jonathan Joseph, Anthony Watson, they have to go through it before it comes to what we know is going to be an outstanding competition here in England.
"It's going to blow everyone's minds and we have to feel what it's like to be under pressure and those lads have to feel it. The belief from that and the lessons we learn will be second to none. They missed it by six points and they're devastated. But they have to feel that pressure, they have to go through it and they will be so much better for it."
Wales finished the tournament in third place despite producing an historic performance of their own in Italy, where they recorded eight tries to temporarily take top spot in the table.
Daniel Lewis
