England's World Cup 2015 plans are unravelling fast as a slow-witted team were out-manoeuvred and out-thought in an error-strewn and ill-disciplined performance against the number two side in the world, South Africa, on Saturday.

It was not so much that the Springboks convincingly won the game through decisive play but that England threw it away with sloppy handling, poor discipline and no game IQ to turn possession and attacking opportunities into points on the board.

South Africa remain undefeated in 12 matches against the men in white — winning 11 and drawing one match in Port Elizabeth in June 2012. Meanwhile, England has lost four successive games for the first time since 2006, when they were in the midst of an eventual seven-match losing streak.

Under Stuart Lancaster’s coaching regime England has won just two of their 12 matches against Southern Hemisphere heavyweights: New Zealand (won one, lost five), South Africa (won none, drawn one and lost three) and Australia (won one and lost one).

The margins of error at this level in Test match Rugby are narrow but England had 60 per cent possession in the first half, with the set piece play going well. But crucial errors by playmakers like Owen Farrell, trying to run the ball in his own half, conceded possession and momentum leading to a half-time deficit.

A telegraphed pass by scrum half Danny Care gifted Jan Serfontein the first try for his side, after England had camped in the ‘Boks’ half. Serfontein’s sharp rugby brain was in marked contrast to the slow and cumbersome Care in this game.

Decision-making at the right time and keeping a cool head does underline what is wrong with England as head coach Lancaster noted. “When we had momentum we made errors, which along with our poor discipline cost us.

“I am getting frustrated. You cannot fault the players for effort but they need to be smarter.” 

Lancaster was painfully honest that his team is not the finished article and pointed to injuries and the lack of experience and caps, especially in the back line. But he conceded that our kicking should have been better and smarter.

“What is important to me is learning which player has ‘it’ and who doesn’t,” he added.

It looks likely that Farrell and Care will pay the price for their lack of “it” and be replaced by George Ford and Ben Youngs. Will the replacements provide greater attacking inventiveness and a more instinctive feel for the game to give the spark needed to unhinge the top sides?

That is a big question because time is now running out for Lancaster to find the answers that will enable England to win against top-tier opponents in the remaining 10 games his team has before the home World Cup.