There is something wrong with this England team, writes SIR CLIVE WOODWARD – here’s why the South Africa defeat was the worst result of the lot this autumn

England’s third straight autumn defeat – and fifth consecutive loss – came as no surprise given the calibre of opposition in back-to-back world champions South Africa.

But this was the worst result of the lot this November. England were naïve. This was a game they should have won.

Let me explain. England weren’t miles off it. I actually thought they were going to win the game in the second half because they had momentum. The problem was they didn’t take it.

This is why. I coached international rugby for a long, long time and I learned a lot of lessons in that time. I was never perfect. But the key was to learn from your experiences.

The No 1 lesson I took from being involved in so many big Tests is that you simply have to take your points when they are on offer. After Cheslin Kolbe scored his second try just after the hour mark, England had virtually the final quarter in the South African half.

When they were nine points down, they earned a number of penalties from which they simply had to go for goal. Marcus Smith was kicking well.

Take the three and restart. Close the gap. Put the pressure on.

Instead, what did England do? They went for the corner.

They had all the field position in the final quarter, but their accuracy was really poor. When they went to touch, they lost line-outs. Their breakdown work was off and it allowed South Africa to pounce and win penalties. England weren’t miles off it. But after disappointing defeats by New Zealand and Australia, this South African result followed the same pattern.

It was a pretty equal game. But, once again, England didn’t make the right calls under pressure. Maro Itoje, who was captain after Jamie George went off, took a gamble by going for the try. It didn’t pay off. If I’d been coach, I’d have been screaming messages on to go for the posts. The fact they didn’t shows something is really not right in this England team.

George is captain. Fine. Steve Borthwick continues to name a number of different vice captains in Itoje, Ellis Genge, George Ford and others. It’s a load of nonsense.

England can name all the leaders they want, but it’s irrelevant because nobody on the pitch can get the big calls right. Once again, England were on the wrong side of the fine margins.

It’s becoming a recurring theme. That’s five games in a row now – if you include the two July losses to the All Blacks alongside the November losses – and they have all followed the same pattern. England could and perhaps should have won all three matches this month.

But the reason they haven’t is down to the fact that they cannot get the big moments right.

The sort of losing statistics I mentioned at the top of this column are unacceptable for any England team. I think Borthwick’s men are getting caught between two stools.

They’re not quite sure whether to stick or twist. My opinion, is that Saturday’s 29-20 defeat by South Africa showed that to be the case.

I played and coached a lot against the Springboks. The scoreline of our 2002 victory over the southern hemisphere giants at Twickenham is still engrained on my mind – 53-3.

In that game, South Africa opted for a brutal thuggery which went way past the line of the sort of physicality on which they traditionally pride themselves as a nation.

Jannes Labuschagne was shown a red card for a late tackle on Jonny Wilkinson, so we played against 14 men for most of the game. The leadership of Corne Krige was called into question and rightly so. But South Africa are now clearly trying to play more rugby.

They are still a team that bases their play around power and physicality. But their change in approach is summed up by the wonderful Kolbe who scored two tries.

Kolbe was player of the match by a country mile. South Africa are able to marry the force of a sledgehammer with the razor-sharp precision of an attacking blade.

Yes, they are a far more experienced team than England who are still learning. But that’s no excuse. England need to go hell for leather with a direct approach or stick fully to a high-octane game played with pace and panache. 

At the moment, they’re not doing either. The second of those two options has to be the way to go. 

England will beat Japan next Sunday. Anything other than such a result would be entirely unforgiveable. But even if it happens, the autumn will have been hugely disappointing.

England had to take something against one of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. But for all their efforts – I can’t question their work ethic or passion – it’s three losses.

All in all, it’s not good enough. South Africa was another outstanding game. The atmosphere at Twickenham was excellent and the crowd did a great job of trying to get England over the line. But it was the team’s decision making on the field that let the supporters down.

England need to start winning, for the fans and for everyone in English rugby. Losing can quickly become a mindset. Here’s another thing I don’t like.

I’m not saying England’s players are simply accepting defeat. But I hate the fact that minutes after the full-time whistle and following yet another loss, the players are smiling, waving and playing with their children on the field.

 The time to bring your family on the pitch is when you’ve won a World Cup, a Grand Slam, or a Six Nations title. Not after a fifth straight loss.

This happened again on Saturday. It’s not acceptable. After once again losing a game they should have won, England’s players should have been back in the changing room getting to the bottom of what went wrong. 

I get the argument that it’s important for the national squad to connect with supporters. But it’s not a good look immediately after a loss.

It’s not what international sport is about. Borthwick needs help to get the best out of this England team. 

The current losing run is not all his fault. But it is vital he and the national set-up get to the bottom of where things are going wrong. If they don’t, England will remain international also-rans.

That is exactly what they are right now.