Eddie Jones has demanded England remain unified as they "dig in" with the aim of salvaging something from their dismal Guinness Six Nations campaign.
Emphatic defeats by Scotland and Wales have removed the champions from title contention, with Saturday's controversial 40-24 defeat in Cardiff once again exposing ruinous levels of indiscipline.
Six Nations favourites France visit Twickenham on Saturday week before England face Ireland in Dublin in the final round – two tough assignments to prevent further damage being done.
Jones' squad have already started a pre-scheduled week off and when they return to the camp on Sunday they will begin urgent repairs to the kamikaze discipline that placed them on the wrong side of a 14-9 penalty count at the Principality Stadium.
The most guilty offender was Maro Itoje, who gave away five penalties and who, in the eyes of Wales boss Wayne Pivac, should have been sin-binned on the basis of accumulation of offences.
Itoje is England's most effective player, but Jones knows he must make some adjustments to his game.
"Maro is one of the best players in the world and he plays the game on the edge," Jones said.
"I can remember the same sort of discussion being had about (former Australia captain) George Smith at one stage. Sometimes the referees tend to over-referee a player like him.
"At the same time, there are areas of the game he needs to tidy up and he knows that. He's a good boy, a good player. There are just a few things in his game he needs to tidy up."
Fly-half George Ford is convinced the current malaise is a temporary blip that can be reversed.
"We've been through this before. It's part of learning, part of winning, and we'll come through it," Ford said.
"One hundred per cent we'll come through this. Stick together, fix things up, be honest with each other and move on."
