I want England to back themselves for 80 minutes - Dawson

Marcus Smith (left) moved from fly-half to full-back when George Ford came on in the 62nd minute

England have flown out of the blocks in their opening two games of the autumn against New Zealand and Australia - but they are like Jekyll and Hyde.

I want them to back themselves for 80 minutes.

There are parts of their game I am unhappy with, but they are also playing some really good stuff.

You can tell they prepared very well for Saturday's game by the way they started and broke the Wallabies down. I cannot fault their endeavour, creativity and spirit, but it was Australia who came out on top in winning 42-37.

For some reason, one of England's defaults when they are ahead and in control of a game is to try and close it down with a very negative style of kicking.

That is not going to allow them to win games against top opposition. It hasn't happened once, or twice; it is relentless.

Unless it is hammering it down and the match is a proper arm-wrestle - like against South Africa in the rain in last year's World Cup semi-final in Paris - it will not be good enough to win these games.

England come unstuck when they go back to their offensive box-kicking rather than playing in a way that got them into that leading position. I find it odd.

Everyone changes how they play rugby depending on the score, the clock, the referee and the players at their disposal.

But England have continued to be in good positions with 15 men on the field and squander it by going to this low-risk rugby, which kills their momentum and gives the opposition a breather and an opportunity to counter-attack.

I am guessing it is a statistical method of coaching.

Coach Steve Borthwick seems to think it is going to increase the number of times you will get the ball back. But bear in mind you have the ball in the first place, and you have pressure and great players.

England are giving that away in return for the bounce of the ball, or a penalty they can capitalise on.

Losing Curry changed the balance

It was great to have continuity in the selection with the same starting XV from the defeat by New Zealand, but losing Tom Curry to a head injury early on completely changed England's balance in the back row.

They then allowed Australia to get a bit of speed at the ruck - and were on the back foot.

With Curry going off for Alex Dombrandt, England were without a jackler to scrap for the ball at the breakdown. They were practically playing with two number eights in Dombrandt and Ben Earl, and a six in Chandler Cunningham-South. It made a difference in the way they were set up.

It was obvious how Australia were going to attack England. They had targeted the breakdown to pick and go through the middle or around the edges.

England defend very hard and fast and, because they are advancing up so fast towards the opposition, they are leaving rucks unguarded. When was the last time you saw an international scrum-half throwing a dummy and making meterage at will? Tate McDermott had two in a row.

You cannot expect to win a Test if you are going to ship 42 points.

It is a massive fixture and, given the recent history of England v Australia, it has not been good for the Wallabies.

But they came to play and test England physically. I am sure England would have prepared themselves for that type of Test, but I don't think anybody thought Australia could match England up front.

Hopefully England will be inconsolable and that will give them plenty of motivation.

Jamie George (fourth from right) was replaced by Luke Cowan-Dickie in the 51st minute

I'm baffled George was taken off

The front row is a tough place to play but, if you are asking Jamie George to captain the side, he has to be in the game when the big decisions need to be made.

If you are asking him to run the week, to run the camp and to be the leader, then when it is proper knockings you need your best leaders on the pitch.

I am so baffled Geroge was taken off after 51 minutes. I saw it happen early last week too and you cannot have your captain come off that early into the second half.

Even if he comes off after 65 minutes, you have set yourself up and the opposition are a bit more tired.

I don't believe it is a fitness thing because he does not come off after 50 minutes for Saracens.

No reason to fear world champions

I really like this England side and the talent pool they have.

When they play the way they want, they are super dangerous - and they are the width of a post and one phase at the death away from being two wins from two.

The reality is they are in the big league at the moment.

There is no reason why England should not beat world champions South Africa next weekend. After the past two performances, they will have a chance. It will come down to decision-making at key moments in the game.

If you get yourself 15-3 up against South Africa in the first 20 minutes, like England were against Australia, you may as well keep ploughing on like it is still 0-0. You know South Africa are going to score points.

You do not shut up shop and give the momentum back. You make it a 15-point gap and keep your foot on the pedal.

By coming off the gas, they left themselves vulnerable to that superb 83rd-minute try from Australia.

It was great play by Australia - a fantastic phase of four or five passes, a really skillful offload by Len Ikitau and there was no catching Max Jorgensen as he sprinted clear.

You cannot point the finger at any England player, but perhaps as a whole they were backing off and not wanting to give away a penalty.

Against plenty of teams that would have been the right play, but Australia sniffed an opportunity, backed themselves and spun wide. The confidence to get that done was brilliant.