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James Haskell believes England still have some way to go despite
showing considerable signs of improvement during their tour of South
Africa.
Stuart Lancaster's revamped side maintained the progress
they began in this year's RBS 6 Nations with three battling displays in
their Test matches against the Springboks but still lost the series 2-0.
Haskell, who made an impressive international return in Saturday's
battling 14-14 draw in Port Elizabeth, feels he knows the areas the team
needs to work on.
The 27-year-old flanker said: "To draw or win
against a southern hemisphere side is pretty special, especially on
their own turf. Moving towards the autumn internationals, hopefully this
has been a big step, but I think we have got to be a bit more creative
in attack. We have got to test teams a bit more."
He added: "We
have got the physicality and the ability to finish. We have just got to
be a bit smarter, get the likes of (Chris) Ashton and Manu (Tuilagi)
running through holes rather than at people."
England will play
the Springboks again during their autumn international programme later
this year, as well as facing Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.
Haskell expects the current group of relatively inexperienced players to grow into a tougher unit.
"In
terms of culture and character, this has helped as well," said Haskell,
who by the autumn will be back in the English game with London Wasps
after spells in Japan and New Zealand.
"You can look back and say
that in the heat of the battle, in the fire of Port Elizabeth, we came
together and we didn't take a backward step. We didn't have the polish
we wanted but we were certainly positive.
"Every time you take to
the field you gain a bit more knowledge about what it takes to win in
international rugby. I think we will be a bit more settled.
"To push South Africa like we did in all these games, we have got to be pretty positive about that."
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