Andy Robinson's reign as England boss could soon be over, after the world champions concluded their troubled autumn Test series with another dismal Twickenham defeat, this time losing 25-14 to South Africa.
Robinson, who has lost 13 of his 22 games in charge since succeeding Clive Woodward three years ago, may be history within a fortnight.
South Africa's first Twickenham triumph since 1997 ended a run of seven successive defeats against England, after they fought back from 14-3 adrift eight minutes from half-time.
Robinson must now await the outcome of a detailed autumn debrief by senior Rugby Football Union figures - although it would be no surprise if he walked before being pushed, as a capacity 82,000 once again booed England off the pitch.
The November schedule has produced losses to New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa - and England, just 10 Test matches away from launching their World Cup defence in France, are a proverbial million miles off the pace.
They started promisingly, easing ahead through wing Mark Cueto's 13th Test try and three Andy Goode penalties - then the chariot's wheels fell off as South Africa amassed 22 unanswered points.
Springboks fly-half Andre Pretorius booted four drop-goals, two penalties and a conversion of prop CJ van der Linde's 40th-minute try for a 20-point haul.
One of Pretorius' Springbok predecessors, Jannie De Beer, dropped five goals to knock England out of the 1999 World Cup in Paris - and Pretorius delivered blows of similar knockout effect.
Springboks coach Jake White, like Robinson, is fighting for his future as national coach - but South Africa's first away win of 2006 may just keep him in a job.
Robinson, though, appears to have reached the end of the road - and several of his players could follow him, including captain Martin Corry.
England, despite their ambitions of making an aggressive start, spent the opening two minutes defending as South Africa looked to keep possession and spread it wide.
But Goode landed an angled 30-metre penalty for a 3-0 lead.
Referee Alan Lewis allowed neither side leeway at the breakdown, and South Africa wasted two promising attacking opportunities through their tactical deficiencies.
Goode stuck to his task, and a second penalty on 12 minutes doubled England's lead after his half-back partner Peter Richards made a sniping break inside the Springboks' 22.
There was an element of composure about England - an ingredient they sorely lacked against Argentina a fortnight ago - yet South Africa were more creative, even though their opening points arrived via Pretorius drop-goal.
Goode quickly resumed normal service as the opening quarter drew to a close, finding his range from 45 metres, and there were signs of England utilising their possession through some slick handling work by centre Mathew Tait and lock Tom Palmer.
Both teams were not shy in attack, and England moved further ahead 10 minutes before the break in controversial fashion.
Corry almost set up a score with a smart blindside break, but quickly recycled possession saw Goode rifle a steepling kick towards South Africa's line which full-back Josh Lewsey and Cueto tapped back to Tait.
Tait was tackled short, and Cueto mopped up for his second try in successive Tests - although video replays raised doubts about whether he cleanly grounded the ball.
At 14-3 ahead, England needed to close South Africa out before the break. But they lost their way, and two Pretorius penalties cut the deficit to five points.
It could have been worse when South Africa launched a blindside raid through openside flanker Juan Smith. But centre Jean de Villiers could not ground the ball as he crossed the line, held up by brilliant combined defensive work from Tait and prop Phil Vickery.
The Springboks were nonetheless well on top and hauled themselves ahead on the stroke of half-time when slick passing created an overlap - and 19 stone van der Linde smashed through Lewsey for an equalising try before Pretorius' conversion sent England off 16-14 adrift.
England's opening contributions of the second period were to kick possession wastefully away, allowing South Africa momentum and further increasing Robinson's state of anxiety when Pretorius slotted a second drop-goal on 46 minutes.
South Africa had scored 16 unanswered points, and Robinson predictably began to panic - making a triple substitution on 49 minutes as flanker Lewis Moody replaced Pat Sanderson, Shaun Perry took over from Richards and Palmer made way for Ben Kay.
England were suddenly in desperation straits, and a subdued Twickenham atmosphere reflected the mood - which was not helped when Goode sent two long-range penalties wide during a three-minute spell.
Despite Goode amassing more than 1,000 career Premiership points, three successive misses meant England desperately needed inspiration.
Cueto agonisingly failed to claim a second try after leaping high to gather another Goode cross-kick but finding himself unable the ball during his descent.
South Africa were happy to absorb pressure and prosper from English mistakes, of which there were many - and Pretorius sealed the deal with his pinpoint kicking to leave England defeated and deflated.
