England 'desperate' to stop rot

Worsley is one of seven changes to the starting XV

Wasps flanker Joe Worsley says England are "desperate" to end their run of seven straight losses when they take on South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday.

Worsley, a 2003 World Cup winner, is one of seven changes to the team that lost to Argentina last week, a result that saw England booed off the pitch.

"The mood in the camp is different from anything I've encountered," he said.

"It's one of frustration and anger. We're desperate to get on the pitch and put it right but it'll be a hard game."

From a media point of view, the players are used to it - but when it's the crowd, it hits home a bit more Mark Cueto

Less than a year before the kick-off of the 2007 World Cup, England are on their worst run of results since 1971.

Coach Andy Robinson's position has been the subject of much speculation, but having experienced the way predecesor Sir Clive Woodward built up to the 2003 World Cup, Worsley has sympathy for him.

"The thing about the World Cup squad was that it was together for five years," he said.

"It was a very settled environment, through playing together and being coached together, we knew how to play. It's a very difficult job to produce a winning team.

"It's a more fluid style of play at the moment but that's more of a sign of the times

"We won the World Cup not based on amazing attacking play, but based on the fundamentals of rugby going back to the last century - winning set pieces, defending well, a good kicking game and the most key thing - not making mistakes.

"It's been making mistakes in particular that has been costing England dear in the last few weeks."

Robinson to stay as England coach

Sale winger Mark Cueto also returns to the team, in place of the injured Paul Sackey.

He said watching the last two games - defeats by New Zealand and Argentina - had not been a pleasant experience.

"I'd rather not watch, to be honest, but you can't help it, you've got to help the lads in any way you can," he said.

"Against the All Blacks, we just played a team who were at the top of their game at the moment - we did good things, we just didn't manage to stick it altogether for 80 minutes.

606: DEBATE We may not have the class of 2003 in our current squad, but we should be doing better than we are HL 606: Have your say

"Last week was a game we should have won and it was even harder to take after the big defeat the week before.

"It's one thing pointing at the coaches and managers, but when it comes down to it it's about the players on the field."

After the Argentina game, the England team left the field to a chorus of boos from spectators - and Cueto said he sympathised with the criticism.

"We've got the same emotion as the fans have got, but every year we're involved, it's becoming more and more like football.

"From a media point of view, the players are used to it - but when it's the crowd, it hits home a bit more. Hopefully we can put it right this weekend."