But Woodward used Australia's stunning revival against the 2001 Lions as proof that a heavy defeat one week can be transformed into victory just seven days later.

England were blitzed 36-3 by New Zealand in Dunedin last Saturday - their worst loss for six years - and they must now tackle the All Blacks at an Auckland fortress which has not been stormed since 1994.

The popular perception is that tomorrow's clash represents nothing more than a damage-limitation exercise for an England side seemingly running on empty following their marathon World Cup-winning campaign.

Head coach Woodward insists, though, that the tourists can bounce back and leave New Zealand on a high before Saturday week's World Cup final rematch with Australia in Brisbane.

"We are very confident that we can do considerably better than we did last weekend. We are not used to nights like last Saturday, and it has been a tough week,'' said Woodward, as rain and gale-force winds lashed England's waterfront hotel.

"If you get smashed in a Test match one week 36-3, and you can turn it around the following week, then it would be a huge achievement. The All Blacks were very good in Dunedin, and England were particularly poor.

"If we keep hold of the ball and play like we normally do then we can certainly win this Test match. If we don't, and we drop off the tackles, then we are not going to win. It's fairly straightforward.

"None of us wanted to be involved in that sort of result last weekend, whether you are coaching or playing, so there has been a lot of soul-searching and a lot of quiet moments. I think everyone is just looking forward to putting the record straight,'' he added.

"Last week, we got ambushed by a very good team. But I think that we are a very good team as well, and we will see what happens tomorrow. I fully expect to see a completely different performance from the England team.

"Everyone is hurt. We took a bit of a battering last week - England don't expect to lose by 30 points to anyone.

"The last time I saw something like this was probably the Lions against Australia three years ago.

"The Lions battered Australia in Brisbane, and I just thought there was no way the Australians could get back from that. But they won the following week, which was an incredible turnaround - so it can happen.

"I am just glad we have got another crack at it this week. I would be very disappointed if we'd played that one Test match last Saturday and then had to leave the country - that would have stuck for a long, long time.''

The message from the England camp is that they intend 'fronting up' in all forward exchanges, which could produce a Test match of brutal intensity.

"We have got a history of playing right on the edge, and I think that our self-control is pretty good,'' said Woodward.

"There was a lot that went on last weekend, and I thought that we kept our self-control probably a little bit too well at times.''

Forwards coach Andy Robinson has been entrusted with rebuilding England's shambolic line-out, which sees a new thrower-jumper combination of Regan and Borthwick in tandem, and generally revitalising a pack which was more powder-puff than power-play last Saturday.

"The guys know that we certainly got beaten up up front in all the contact areas and all the physical challenges that were there. We've got to put it right tomorrow,'' said Robinson.

"All the talking has been done - it's now about that mental focus and getting it right. It's a different Test match, and the battle-ground has got to be fought for right from the first whistle.

"We had a good meeting with (match referee) Nigel Williams today, and he's looked at the tape in terms of the line-out.

"He's guaranteed us that there will be space in order for both sides to compete. The competition will be in the air and not on the floor, which is excellent.''

England's defence, breached three times in the first half by razor-sharp All Blacks backs Carlos Spencer, Joe Rokocoko and Doug Howlett, also cannot afford another off-day.

"We are very hurt and we realise that we didn't defend particularly well,'' said defence specialist Phil Larder.

"The mood is very quiet and very determined. I get the impression that the players' football heads are well and truly in place.''

England have no option but to get on with the job, launching themselves into New Zealand from the kick-off and dictating matters in a way they probably have not done consistently since their World Cup semi-final victory over France last November.

Where established warriors like Lawrence Dallaglio and Richard Hill will inevitably lead, others must follow.

It is bodies-on-the-line time, or the outcome could hurt England even more than their experience at Dunedin's so-called House of Pain.