Northampton Saints flanker Tom Wood is adamant that England need to get nasty if they are going to beat South Africa.
Stuart Lancaster's side were unimpressive during their 20-14 defeat at the hands of Australia last weekend, and are preparing to face the Springbok this Saturday at Twickenham.
Wood, who is expecting to make his first international start since recovering from a foot injury, believes that England need to portray an element of nastiness in their game.
"With the physical challenge that is coming there has got to be an element of that [nastiness]," said Wood. "That would definitely be something I would look to bring to the team. I'm combative and like to get stuck in.
"James Haskell, who has experienced playing in the Super 15, says that playing South Africans is like a man test. They look at you, they look for your biggest guy and get theirs to run at him as hard as he can to see who comes out on top.
"If you do show any fear and if you do back off to any extent you've got a long day at the office. You have to match it head on and make that early low tackle."
England face South Africa in the third of their four Autumn Test matches.
Matt Cotton
