The Toulouse winger, France’s second top try-scorer of all time, returned from injury to start the last three matches of the Championship, as they picked up a draw in Ireland before beating Scotland in their final game.

That wasn’t enough to finishing bottom for the first time since 1999, but for Clerc, who was featuring in his eighth RBS 6 Nations, the losses are invaluable in the team’s development.

He said: “We were under a lot of pressure in the tournament, we felt there were things that weren’t going right, and that they were going against us.

“We stopped the bleeding in time, after three defeats we managed to rebuild little by little, we got the draw in Ireland that in other circumstances would have been seen as a good result.

“We feel like we have progressed, we worked hard during the tournament despite everything and the results coming at the end.

“I think the squad coped well, there is some experience there. There were the November tests, it’s perhaps the first time for some that they have tasted defeat but that is part of the learning process.

“The older players have to reassure the squad, it happens, and in four years between World Cups you won’t win every game, there will be defeats.

“Some are more disappointing than others but you have to look at yourself, work hard and make the most of the Championship to get your bearings even if the results came too late.”