Woodward claims England have blamed results “on injured players and refereeing decisions”.

All three defeats have been narrow ones and England coach Andy Robinson has had to do without a host of injured players, including talismanic captain Johnny Wilkinson.

But Woodward, who led England to World Cup glory with a final victory over hosts Australia in November 2003, has little sympathy for his fallen heroes.

He will coach the Lions on their tour of New Zealand this year and he was shocked when he dropped into training sessions with the other home nations.

“I thought we (England) were ahead,” Woodward told The Times. “The moment I spent a week with Wales (in November) I thought ‘This is incredible’.

“They have a centre where it’s almost like a club side, they are there so often. In terms of sheer numbers, England should never have to worry about beating these guys. But they are too busy blaming losses on injured players and refereeing decisions.

“If all the players had been back for the last three games they would have won them, but that would have been hiding the bigger story.”

Woodward wanted changes following the World Cup success, but was left frustrated.

“We won in spite of the system not because of it,” he said.

“We had to tell players to get injured and pull muscles, to play silly games and almost lie and cheat. We arrived for the World Cup with no injuries and that is one of the reasons we won.”