Robinson and company are reeling from Saturday's 11-9 RBS 6 Nations Championship defeat against Wales in Cardiff - a setback which saw English Grand Slam hopes collapse at the first hurdle.

Counting England's reversal against France in the final game of last season's tournament, the World Cup-holders now find themselves striving to avoid a third successive championship defeat - something which has not happened since 1987.

England coach Andy Robinson has changed a third of the team on duty in Wales, and the Twickenham full-house will not accept a performance which dips below normal standards.

''We are certainly not on the decline,'' said full-back Robinson, who once again leads England in the absence of the injured Jonny Wilkinson.

''You lose one game, and it doesn't make you a bad team - in the same way as winning one game doesn't make you a good team.

''Last weekend, we should have won the game; no doubt about it.

''If we can under-perform and lose by only two points then I am sure if we play well this week we will get the win we need.

''I have no doubt in the players we've got. I still believe, even though it is a re-building period, that we have got the team to go out and beat anyone on our day,'' he added.

''We proved that in the autumn - when we put in some excellent performances - and now we just need to build on that.

''It was a disappointing start against Wales, and we might be down on that. But we are certainly not out. We will come out fighting this week.''

There is a fierce determination among the England players to bounce back from the Millennium Stadium defeat.

''Defensively, we were fine against Wales. But we didn't ask any questions of them; we didn't move them about and we didn't threaten them at all,'' said Robinson.

''When we got out there we didn't produce. It was an on-the-day thing. Sometimes you have got to accept defeat and take it on the chin. This week, it is all about getting our game right.''