England head coach Eddie Jones remains bullish about the side's future despite Saturday's poor 27-13 loss to South Africa rounding out their worst calendar year since 2008.
The loss at Twickenham means the 2019 World Cup runners-up lost six of 12 Tests in 2022, managing only one win from four games during their autumn campaign.
Jones' side finished with a 2-3 record in the Six Nations at the start of the year, while earlier this month they lost to Argentina for the first time since 2009.
England were barely at the races on Saturday, with tries to Kurt-Lee Arendse and Eben Etzebeth lifting the Springboks to a 27-6 lead before Henry Slade's late consolation score with Thomas du Toit red carded for a no arms tackle.
"We want to win," Jones told reporters. “We are judged by results but I feel there is growth in the team which wasn't evident today.
"We don't want to get beat by a big score to South Africa and don't want to have the worst record since 2008 so it is a problem but I accept full responsibility for that.
"Obviously on results we are not happy but I feel like we are building a really good base to have a really good go at the World Cup, a really good go.
"A number of young players got great experience today and they'll come back better players for that. We’ve got other players coming back to form, some of our more senior players and we're not far away. We need to develop consistently. Test match rugby is all about consistency."
Jones said that "nothing seemed to go right" against the Springboks, who beat England in the 2019 World Cup final.
The loss comes after England thrashed Japan 52-13 a fortnight ago, a win followed by last week's thrilling 25-25 draw with New Zealand at Twickenham where the side crossed three times in the final eight minutes.
"I think it is a bit of a watershed game for us and we came into the game with high expectations on how we wanted to play on the back of Japan and New Zealand," Jones said.
"In this game South Africa were a bit too tough in the scrum and the air and I know where we have to improve.
"Are we moving in the right direction towards the World Cup? Yes we are. I don't care what other people think. Obviously, we are disappointed with our performance but there are 11 months to the World Cup and I have no doubt we will rise to the occasion.
"We just didn't fire a shot as we wanted today. You have to win contests against the Springboks and we didn't win the air or the set piece. We lost two of the key contests and we have to improve in those areas."
England’s Zach Mercer installs oxygen chamber at home to combat ankle injury
England international Zach Mercer has bought an oxygen chamber for his home as part of the recovery process from an ankle injury.
Mercer, who joined Gloucester from Montpellier earlier this year, has not played since late October, missing the Gallagher Premiership club’s last four games.
But the 26-year-old number eight is leaving no stone unturned, and he could be back in action sooner rather than later.
Oxygen chamber use can assist in helping damaged tissue heal, and Gloucester head coach George Skivington said: “Zach is doing everything he can. He has bought an oxygen chamber for his house.
“It is out of Zach’s own pocket and his own commitment to getting fit.
“He has definitely shown his level of commitment and professionalism over the last five weeks in how he is approaching his rehab.
“He is really motivated, he is a very smart rugby guy and he wants to be the best.
“It has not surprised me, but it is still nice to see when someone you have invested in has that level of commitment and is that hungry to get back.”
Mercer, flanker Ruan Ackermann and fly-half Adam Hastings are among the Gloucester players currently sidelined.
But Skivington says there are “positive shoots” in terms of them returning to action as Gloucester target overturning poor Premiership results.
They have lost their last five league games, dropping to ninth in the Premiership after an encouraging start produced victories over Harlequins and Newcastle.
They face west country rivals Bristol at Ashton Gate on Saturday, and Skivington added: “I would take a win however it came. It is not the start we wanted to the season.
“I think the frustration for us as a group is that every game we have done some things really well and we have just dropped off in other areas. At the back end of games we have had some poor moments.
“We are not making any excuses, we don’t come in and try to dance around it. We are very honest as a group.
“I understand my job is to take the brunt of it, and I always will. I would never hide away from anything.
“I just stay focused, keep motivating the boys, keep trying to push the team on and I am confident it will come together.
“We’ve had lots of bumps and good times as a group over the last couple of years, so we are a pretty tight unit, and in these hard times that really shines through.
“No-one puts more pressure on me than me. You live and breathe the job. The pressure doesn’t really change because it is always there, and if you don’t want that on you then don’t be a director of rugby.”
Former England rugby captain Sarah Hunter enjoying ‘not feeling beaten up’
Former England Women’s rugby union captain Sarah Hunter has said she is enjoying no longer “feeling beaten up and battered” in her retirement, as she was made a CBE for services to the sport.
The 38-year-old – England’s most capped player – said it is an “uncomfortable” feeling to be singled out for praise because rugby is the “ultimate team sport”.
Hunter, who won 138 caps and captained her side at the 2021 Rugby World Cup, was handed her CBE medal by the Prince of Wales at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Monday.
Hunter – who made her England debut in 2007 and was named World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year in 2016 – announced her retirement from international rugby earlier this year.
She has started a new chapter of her career as a coach with the England team, something she discussed with William.
She told the PA news agency: “He asked me what I’m doing now since I stopped playing.
“England Rugby have got me back in coaching to try and help the next generation of players come through.”
Hunter and William also discussed the Princess of Wales’s role as a patron of England Rugby, and the time two England players “threw her up in the line-out” during a visit, she said.
Asked about the secret to her long career, she said: “It’s probably just hanging on in there.
“As you get older it’s definitely around looking after your body. I was just driven to always be better every time I came off the field.
“I’ve been part of so many wonderful teams, it’s pretty hard to leave and say goodbye, but I guess everything has to end at some point.”
She continued: “It’s such an honour. I started playing rugby for the love of it and never did I ever imagine that I’d be honoured in this way.
“It’s kind of strange for me because rugby is the ultimate team sport, so being recognised for an individual award is fairly uncomfortable.
“But it certainly ranks right up there in my achievements, I’m immensely proud.”
Asked if she was going to miss playing rugby, Hunter said: “Do you know what, I’m not. I actually enjoy not feeling beaten up and battered.
“I think that’s a really good sign that it was time to leave. I miss the camaraderie but I don’t miss being out there on the pitch.
“England Rugby have got me back in coaching to try and help the next generation of players come through.
“I’m starting on a new journey.”
Former England manager Terry Venables dies, aged 80
Former England, Barcelona and Tottenham manager Terry Venables has died at the age of 80.
As a player he made more than 500 appearances for Chelsea, Tottenham, QPR and Crystal Palace but made his real mark as a coach, also managing Palace and QPR.
“We are totally devastated by the loss of a wonderful husband and father who passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness,” read a family statement.
“We would ask that privacy be given at this incredibly sad time to allow us to mourn the loss of this lovely man who we were so lucky to have had in our lives.”
In Spain Venables won the domestic title in 1984-85 and the FA Cup with Spurs in 1991 but it was his spell as England boss, guiding the team to the semi-final of Euro 96 on home soil after a brilliantly-memorable 4-1 win over the Netherlands only to lose on penalties to Germany.
League Managers’ Association chief executive Richard Bevan said: “The LMA is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of LMA member and former LMA president Terry Venables.
“Our thoughts are very much with Yvette and all of Terry’s family at this time.”
Tottenham will hold a minute’s applause and players will wear black armbands for Sunday’s fixture at home to Aston Villa.
“We are extremely saddened to learn of the passing of Terry Venables, our former player, manager and chief executive, who passed away on Saturday,” said a club statement.
“We extend our sincere condolences at this sad time to Terry’s wife, Yvette, his close family and friends.”
Gary Lineker, whom Venables signed for Barcelona from Everton in 1986 and then brought to Tottenham in 1989 after he took the job at White Hart Lane, paid his own tribute.
“Devastated to hear that Terry Venables has died. The best, most innovative coach that I had the privilege and pleasure of playing for,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“He was much more, though, than just a great manager, he was vibrant, he was charming, he was witty, he was a friend.
“He’ll be hugely missed. Sending love and condolences to Yvette and the family. RIP Terry.”
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