Tom Palmer: We’re ready to make bold statements and the difficult calls

We produced a performance built on courage and tremendous spirit. Our work-rate was great, we showed a never-say-die attitude and for the majority of the match our defence was phenomenal.

Granted, there are lots of things we need to work on. For instance, all their line-breaks were due to missed one-on-one tackles which is something we need to sort out in the coming days, as we cannot afford to give the same attacking opportunities to other teams, who are likely be a little more clinical than Scotland were. Other teams in the RBS 6 Nations would probably score off those line breaks.

Apart from a few missed tackles the actual structure of our defence was very good, and in the end it was defence that won us the match. All week in training we had talked about using our defence as a weapon to put Scotland under pressure, to force them into making mistakes and conceding penalties when they had possession. We call it ‘try scoring defence’.

Charlie Hodgson’s charge-down at the start of the second half was exactly what we work on in training, putting our opponents under pressure at the kick-off. If our defence was absolutely excellent, we definitely need to work on our attacking game, we need to be more accurate at the set-piece, to provide better quality ball to the backs.

Also we need to improve the continuity of our play, the ability to keep the ball for long periods of time and create scoring opportunities. Over the coming days we will definitely be working on our play at the breakdown. Working on how to more efficiently produce quick ball at the ruck, because when we managed to do that, we looked quite dangerous. However, we squandered numerous good positions when for one reason or another the ball squirted out of the ruck and we lost possession.

We had a number of guys making their England debuts and I thought they all played exceptionally well. Chris Robshaw in his first match as captain led by example and was involved in everything. Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt played phenomenally and have big futures ahead of them. These guys look like they’ve been playing at this level for a while.

You’ve got to take your hats off to the coaching staff. They made a bold decision in selecting and then picking these young players at Murrayfield, but it has paid off.

And that’s indicative of how we would like to be seen as a team. One that not only makes bold statements, and difficult calls, but a team that backs it up by winning. From the foundations we laid in camp, the things that came to the fore were our team spirit and our willingness to work together. Everyone gave their all.

Who knows where this win will take us? We are very much a team that takes one game at a time.

Our next challenge is Italy, who are going to be a handful in Rome. We’ll have to work hard up front against an experienced, powerful pack. We will need to improve at the breakdown to let our backs show what they can do.

Winning the Calcutta Cup – while something we’re very proud of – is only the first step.

Tom Palmer and the Yorkshire Post are supporting RBS RugbyForce, the community rugby programme that is improving club facilities across the nation. To find out more or register your rugby club for the RBS RugbyForce Weekend on June 2 and 3, visit www.rbs.com/rugbyforce.