Wednesday 26 November 2014 14:32, UK
David Wilson says victory for England over old rivals Australia on Saturday would sweeten what has been a tough autumn campaign.
Stuart Lancaster's side beat Samoa 28-9 last weekend to end a run of five successive defeats which included narrow reverses against powerhouses New Zealand and South Africa.
England matched two of the best three teams in world rugby for long spells but defeat against the Wallabies would be harder to take given their inconsistent form, while victory would give the World Cup 2015 hosts a huge fillip 10 months before they meet again in Group A.
"We've played some quality sides in New Zealand and South Africa and we're disappointed to have lost," said Bath prop Wilson.
"The pressure is on to win every international, but if we beat Australia it would make the autumn a lot sweeter.
"We've performed well but haven't done well enough to be on the right side of the scoreboard.
"Beating Samoa will have eased the nerves a bit and the longer you're in camp together the better you get to know each other.
"The Rugby Championship teams touring here have been together for three months now, which helps them.
"Now we've had that time together we have more of a club feel and things get easier to sort out."
England's scrummaging at Twickenham will be all the more important given Australia's relative struggles in that area, with coach Michael Cheika calling on his players to 'harden up' in the wake of their defeat by Ireland.
But Wilson still expects them to be a force and he says that any decrease in output will make it tough for England.
"Australia are very good tacticians at the scrum. They'll come up with anything to get the edge. I'm sure they'll have a few tricks up their sleeves," Wilson added.
"They're not a weak side at the set piece, they're no mugs. They'll be well drilled. They scrummaged well in parts against Ireland and Wales and I'm sure they'll give us a good run for our money.
"You target the set piece in every single game because you want to starve them of as much ball as possible. Australia are a good side with the ball in hand.
"We can't take a backwards step and think it's an easy day at the office because if we do we'll get stuffed.
"We've been quite consistent at the set-piece so far and that's what we'll keep striving to do. You can't win an international with 50 per cent set piece, so we will have to be right up there."
Watch England's final QBE International of the year against Australia on Sky Sports 2 from 1:30pm on Saturday.
