Sir Clive Woodward has highlighted a change England need to make after drawing 25-25 with New Zealand in their latest autumn series.
Three tries in the last eight minutes rescued England a dramatic draw against the All Blacks, coming back from 25-6 down during a dramatic finale. Will Stuart scrambled over for two tries and Freddie Steward the other as a rampant England excited the Twickenham crowd.
However, with the All Blacks shellshocked by the late tries Marcus Smith opted to kick the ball out of play to end the match rather than push for a winning score resulting in some boos from the crowd.
Woodward, who led England to World Cup victory in 2003, insists that the team's mindset needs to change ahead of next year's tournament in France.
"Against New Zealand, a win was on the cards. It would have been a victory that would have propelled England into next year's World Cup," said Woodward writing for the Daily Mail.
"Smith's decision to kick the ball out at the end smacked of a safety-first approach which the best teams do not have. England's macho rhetoric just does not match their mentality and that has to change quickly.
"I don't blame Smith individually for such a negative approach, it is more symptomatic of the team as a whole. The fact several England players were celebrating so enthusiastically at a draw showed this team does not yet have the mentality required to beat the best teams in the world."
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England bring their autumn internationals to a close against South Africa on Saturday bringing to an end a month which has seen them narrowly lose to Argentina and beat Japan. Woodward says that England need to show their progression against South Africa ahead of next year's Six Nations and World Cup in September.
"England's draw with New Zealand was a huge missed opportunity, much like the team's autumn series so far," added Woodward.
"Eddie Jones 's side must beat South Africa on Saturday to show they have made progress this November, indeed even this year. I have already made clear my disappointment and displeasure at the decision by Marcus Smith to kick the ball out at the end of the All Blacks game and opt for a share of the spoils.
"England settling for a draw felt like they were happy with being second best."
