Mike Catt believes Stuart Lancaster's new-look England side are developing at a greater pace than Sir Clive Woodward's World Cup winners did.
Catt, a member of Woodward's triumphant 2003 team, is backs coach for the England squad that have lost their first two Tests against the Springboks, but he feels good progress is being made.
The 40-year-old said: "I have been very impressed with the environment Stuart has created – the enthusiasm from the players.
"It probably took Clive three years to get where Stuart is now, that is how good it is.
"I would like to think a lot of these youngsters have got two World Cups in them. Hopefully in three years or seven years' time these guys will look back on this tour and say, 'This is the kickstart we needed to go on and be successful'."
England are looking for a consolation victory in this weekend's third Test in Catt's home city of Port Elizabeth, with Danny Care and Alex Goode set to line up in the backs.
"If we get a little more ball I am confident these guys can do something special," said Catt. "But we have got to play in the right parts of the pitch for that to happen. We don't want to commit suicide and give the opposition those opportunities they have had in the past two weeks.Hopefully, if we can play in the right areas, then we can see what our ball-carriers can do."
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