The RFU have given head coach Eddie Jones an ultimatum that England must deliver a successful autumn campaign after a poor 2017 thus far.

The Red Rose endured a disappointing Six Nations campaign in which they finished fifth before losing a three-Test series 2-1 in South Africa in June.

England’s rugby bosses showed their loyalty to Jones in the face of fierce criticism, but have warned Jones that he is on thin ice.

“We plan to win every game we play. We expect success in the autumn,” RFU chief executive Steve Brown said.

“I don’t want to predict failure, I’d rather predict success, but that’s not in blind faith. They’re all big matches. We’re planning to come out of the other side successful.”

And Brown made it clear although this year’s decline was unnaceptable, one must look at it as a very short period in an otherwise highly successful tenure.

“I’ve reflected over the time Eddie has been at his post and his win rate (80 per cent). The win rate is still very high – it’s significant and it’s hard to argue against it,” Brown said.

“It’s important that we don’t just make a judgement on what’s happened in the very short term. Nevertheless, it was a pretty poor run of results.

“We showed great character for the result in Cape Town but the series result was disappointing, there’s no question about it. So was the Six Nations. Coming fifth in the Six Nations was a pretty difficult situation.

“The last result in South Africa was important, but not critical to any decisions we make about the future.

“The confidence comes from the history to date and talking to Eddie about the plans for the autumn and the World Cup and how to get back to that win rate.

“I’ve discussed this with Eddie and I’m confident those disappointing results are behind us and can be turned around.”