New Zealand World Cup winner Sean Fitzpatrick believes sides like England will continue to struggle against southern hemisphere teams until they tie players down to central contracts.

England's hopes of winning the World Cup on home soil next year have been dented after they lost 31-28 to South Africa on Saturday, seven days after being beaten 24-21 by the All Blacks.

The Red Rose have won just once in their last 23 matches against New Zealand and South Africa, who both use central contracts and therefore enjoy greater control over their players' schedules for club and country.

"It makes it very difficult for the northern hemisphere sides and even more so in the autumn," said Fitzpatrick, who won the World Cup with New Zealand in 1987 and captained the team from 1992 to 1997.

"The All Blacks play 12 to 15 Test matches a year which means they're together 20-odd weeks a year which makes them almost like a club team.

"That's where the northern hemisphere teams are going to struggle against the southern hemisphere."

Fitzpatrick also suggested it would be a "good idea" for the Rugby Football Union to buy every Premiership club if it meant central contracts could be introduced.

England's disappointing start to their autumn campaign means Stuart Lancaster's side have now lost their last five consecutive Tests.