Ben Youngs says individual errors rather than coaching are what have cost England during their run of five consecutive Test defeats.
Eddie Jones' side were defeated 23-12 in Bloemfontein on Saturday as the Springboks took an unassailable 2-0 series lead, following their 42-39 victory last week.
Those defeats came on the back of three consecutive Six Nations losses to Ireland, France and Scotland, while England were also beaten 63-45 by the Barbarians last month.
A common theme during England's dismal run has been poor discipline, with a high penalty count proving consistently costly, but Youngs says the players must take responsibility and insisted the blame should not be laid at the door of Jones.
"It is not how we are being coached," Youngs told Sky Sports. "It is individuals doing things that are uncharacteristic when they are under the cosh and under pressure.
"The Nathan Hughes decision to go and play the ball 80 metres from your own line - when you are in the cauldron and the crowd are roaring, you make these instinctive decisions that are not necessarily best for the team.
"It has been a theme and I hope next week that we can get our penalties to six or seven and give ourselves a better chance of winning a game."
Youngs was one of several players visibly frustrated after England's latest setback and walked off after giving a curt answer to a question during a post-match interview.
However, the Leicester scrum-half did subsequently give another interview and apologised for his abrupt exit.
The 28-year-old said it is time for the squad to stand up and show their character and he is confident England can salvage some pride in the third and final Test of the series next Saturday in Cape Town.
"Owen [Farrell] spoke brilliantly on the field. He said these are the weeks that really test us as a side so it is very important that we stick together and that we are tight," Youngs said.
"I think that we are capable of putting South Africa under pressure and I believe we are capable of winning.
"What we are doing is letting ourselves down by ill discipline and poor decisions. If we just get that ball focus a little bit higher, I believe we have got enough to unlock them."