England have had 10 players sin-binned in their four Tests and conceded a staggering 18 penalties in their last RBS 6 Nations defeat to Ireland.

Head coach Martin Johnson last week called top referee Wayne Barnes into the England camp and forced his players to watch a video of every penalty they have conceded.

England must beat Les Bleus at Twickenham next Sunday to stand any chance of finishing above the fold in the RBS 6 Nations table.

Dallaglio said: “Discipline is one of the key pillars of success. This England team need to learn quicker than they are. They have to get smarter. Martin knows that.

“The simple answer is if you want to stop giving penalties away you need to play better.

“Winning becomes a habit and so can losing. England’s record doesn’t make for pleasant reading, ranked eighth in the world and having only won two of their last nine matches.

“At the moment they are learning painful lessons and for some players it might cost them a place in the team.

“Hopefully now the messages are getting on board. England have to cut out the dumb penalties for the foul play and practice like hell on the other ones.

“At the moment they can’t blame anyone but themselves. If they can cut out the penalties and the mistakes they have a decent chance of winning both their remaining games against France and Scotland.

“There has to be a bit of siege mentality in the England camp, after the recent criticism - which was largely down to their own doing - and I’d like to think they will come out all guns blazing, right on the edge.

“We need consistency and even though France produced a pretty decent performance against Wales I am confident of England’s chances next weekend.

“Games are won and lost in the last 20 minutes. The games against Wales and Ireland were there for the winning in the last 20 minutes.”

While ventures into the hostile atmosphere of the Millennium Stadium and Croke Park, to face Grand Slam-chasing sides, were daunting occasions, Dallaglio insists England should have nothing to fear in hosting Les Bleus at Twickenham.

“Mentally you can wear France down,” he said. “France should be respected, and physically they present a big challenge, but at Twickenham they should hold no fear for England.

“Crucially so many of the England side have the experience of beating French club teams. You think this season of Harlequins beating Stade Francais home and away.”