Wednesday 26 November 2014 22:12, UK
England captain Chris Robshaw says his team are in no doubt that defeat against Australia on Saturday would mean the entire autumn campaign would be viewed as a failure.
Robshaw has already been part of an England side which lost to both New Zealand and South Africa at home this month, with the expected victory over Samoa doing little to relieve the pressure.
And with Australia in England's group for next year's World Cup, the stakes are high for the Twickenham clash.
"If we lose we must view this as a poor campaign. That disappointment would be tough to take for all the guys," said Robshaw.
"This game is huge because our next game will be at the Millennium Stadium against Wales, so we'll be using that as big motivation.
"Ask any team in the world if they believe they should be expected to win at home and they'll say yes.
"However, losing to the two best teams in the world by three points, and beating two more, is not a bad place in which to be."
England lost 24-21 to world champions New Zealand and 31-28 to the Springboks, although late tries in both of those matches arguably gave the scorelines a more flattering sheen.
"I do not think we've gone backwards, but we haven't moved forwards at the pace we were moving at in last autumn's series and in the Six Nations," he added.
Robshaw said Australia's presence in Pool A of the World Cup alongside England and Wales is definitely a factor, with the team's next meeting after Saturday's encounter a potentially pivotal clash on October 3 at the same venue.
And the Harlequins flanker cited the example of England's record against South Africa before the 2007 World Cup when a pre-tournament defeat was followed by two losses at the big event, including in the final.
This game is huge because our next game will be at the Millennium Stadium against Wales, so we'll be using that as big motivation.
Meanwhile, Robshaw said his team-mates had to understand the pressure would only intensify during a home World Cup.
"Guys can get fed up with the scrutiny if they are being scrutinised all the time, but I don't see it affecting a lot of the guys," he said.
"Instead, I see them being able to distance themselves from the negativity coming their way.
"We've noticed during this campaign that all the outside stuff has built up more than usual.
"As head coach Stuart Lancaster said last week, we're hosting a World Cup next year so we need to get used to this.
"We are playing one of the best teams in world rugby at one of the world's top stadiums. We can only see that as something to excite and inspire us."
Watch England v Australia live on Sky Sports 2 from 1.30pm on Saturday.
