Tuesday 22 March 2016 13:25, UK
Captain Sarah Hunter insists England will come back stronger after being pipped to the Women’s Six Nations Championship by France.
A 17-12 loss saw England lose out to the France in a winner-takes-all title clash in front of a sell-out crowd of 11,000 spectators in Vannes last Friday.
But Hunter points to the emergence of several players as a cause for optimism after England improved upon a disappointing fourth place finish in the Six Nations last year.
"I think we'll always be disappointed about that final result but since we've had some time to look back and reflect, I think we've seen how far we have come in this tournament and just how close we were," Hunter told Tuesday's Sportswomen show on Sky Sports News HQ.
"It wasn't won on games won, it was won on points differential at the end of the day, and that is how France managed to just sneak it.
"We'll look back on a positive tournament for us as a team and obviously we'll be disappointed at the result but I think that hunger will help us push on and strive to be better and better.
"Last year was about development and this year was about performances and how we transcend between the two. We've certainly been on a journey and built on people's experiences from last year.
"They've got that international experience and put that into this year's Six Nations campaign and really started to come to the fore.
"The players have really stepped up. Your Vickii Cornboroughs, the Abbie Scotts and Lotte Clapps of this world have really taken to Test rugby and are really bright stars for the future.
