Dire England warned there isn't a quick fix

That is the damning verdict of Dick Best, the former England and Lions coach, who watched the record 42-6 defeat by South Africa at the weekend. And while Best wasn't one of the many who booed the England team off, he understands the frustration tumbling down from the Twickenham stands.

Best's argument is that if a World XV was picked today, it would be an England-free zone. It is hard to disagree, given the inadequacies exposed this month by Australia and South Africa.

Next up, the All Blacks; the best team on the planet, who have no qualms about kicking England when they are down. According to Martin Johnson, the team manager, the present England side is the best the country can offer, which is why he is not planning wholesale changes.

Best said: "We are at least 18 months away from being a competitive team at this level. We are paying the price for two or three years of poor selections and, at present, these are the best players around. We have worked our way into a corner and we are stuck with Martin Johnson for at least two years.

"I was quite happy with former head coach Brian Ashton and would have liked Johnson to have been added as his team manager."

Ashton was, effectively, forced out of office after his guiding of the team to the 2007 World Cup Final and second place in the Six Nations was deemed a failure.

Johnson was appointed to cure every English rugby ill - a patently ridiculous remit - but his short tenure has now made history for the wrong reasons and there is little room to manoeuvre.

Once the New Zealanders have gone home, Johnson must then determine if lock Steve Borthwick is worth his place in the side, let alone the captaincy.

Other questions need to be answered. Does forwards coach John Wells deliver the goods? Is kicking coach Jon Callard the right man for the job? Why is Mike Ford's defence opened up so easily?

On the pitch, only full-back Delon Armitage, scrum-half Danny Care and the outstanding Tom Rees have maintained their form in the three Autumn internationals.

That highlights the fundamental problem undermining England's cause. Too many players have failed to rise to the challenge, mentally and physically, and their errors have compounded a collective inability to score tries despite having 63 per cent of possession.

With outside-half Danny Cipriani being given precious little quick ball, England have been too lateral in their lines of running. They are also playing too much rugby in their own half which, under the new laws, carries the danger of conceding penalties at the break down. The team's inability to kick deep and chase with a collective purpose has made life too easy for the opposition.

Cipriani has displayed neither the length nor accuracy necessary with the boot and a recurring problem with charge downs is only making matters worse for the Wasps outside-half.

On Saturday, it will be Dan Carter, the man Cipriani admires the most, who will be pulling the tactical strings for New Zealand and it could turn very ugly again for England.

Cipriani said: "We have let the whole squad and management down and I was very disappointed with my own game. I didn't play very well. There is going to be a lot of negativity outside the squad and we want to do the country proud against New Zealand. By the end of the week we are going to know how strong some people are."