England head coach Stuart Lancaster denies a deteriorating autumn has reached crisis point as pressure mounts following a fifth successive defeat.

The third International against Samoa on Saturday is a match England dare not lose after New Zealand and South Africa stormed Twickenham over the last two weekends.

Only 10 games remain until next year’s home World Cup and a sense of urgency has gripped the hosts as they seek to address their declining self-belief, brainless decision making and the collapse in form of half-backs Danny Care and Owen Farrell.

However, a defiant Lancaster refutes the suggestion England are in crisis.

“I don’t think that’s true at all. If you say that, you’re talking about a team that has no belief in what they’re doing, has no sense of direction,” Lancaster said yesterday.

“You’re talking about a group of players who are not aligned with what you’re trying to do, not agreeing with where you’re going and have poor discipline on and off the field.

“That’s a team in crisis. For me at the moment, I don’t see any of those traits in this England team.”

England have added five players to the matchday 23 defeated 31-28 by South Africa, with centres Luther Burrell and Billy Twelvetrees, scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth and flankers Calum Clark and James Haskel the men drafted in.