Attack coach Brian Smith is convinced England can prove a point against New Zealand after their week of intense criticism.

England were crushed 42-6 by South Africa last weekend, prompting calls for Martin Johnson to sack his captain and change the coaching staff.

Former New Zealand captain Sean Fitzpatrick described England as "terrible" and predicted the All Blacks would win with ease. Smith knows England are a work in progress but he believes they are not as far off being competitive as last weekend's score suggests.

He said: "If someone says we have no chance it is good. It fuels us and inspires us more. We know we are not hopeless. We are clearly building. We are creating opportunities but we need to be more ruthless."

Smith insisted England would not be fazed by the aura that surrounds the All Blacks.

"New Zealand pull their trousers on one leg before the other like the rest of us," said the former Australia and Ireland fly-half. "There is no mystery about it. There are some teams who don't do themselves any favours by getting caught up in the mystery. I don't think our players will."

Harsh words were said in the England camp on Monday and Tuesday but the coaches are anxious the young side are not shorn of their confidence.

"If we go into this game feeling sorry for ourselves then we will get thumped," said scrum coach Graham Rowntree.

"It's hard. The players are hurting but they are very young and inexperienced. We were honest with them at the start of the week but then we have to build them back up. We are not going to enter the game with any fear."