If the media are to be believed, Andy Robinson has coached England for the last time and if he does not resign, he will be paid off and asked to leave.

Saturday's 25-14 defeat by South Africa was England's eighth loss in nine games and the 13th of Robinson's 22-game, two-year reign in charge of the world champions.

Universally liked and respected throughout the rugby world, Robinson nevertheless has come under fire from just about every angle.

Former England lock Paul Ackford, now a journalist, wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: "Robinson may have the confidence of his squad but he has lost the confidence of almost everyone else.

"England lack shape, they lack direction and, critically, they are losing the respect of the rugby world."

Former England hooker Brian Moore wrote on Monday: "I strongly suspect that the decision that Robinson must go was really made after the Argentina game and, if so, it should have been executed at that time because all else was disingenuous."

Andrew's directorial post was created in April, when Robinson's three assistants were sacked after another fourth-placed finish in the Six Nations.

The former England flyhalf surely knows that something needs to be done, or even seen to be done, after twice witnessing the national team booed off the pitch at Twickenham.

Robinson's schedule this week includes a series of meetings in Paris to discuss the World Cup but the chances of him still being in charge next year are rated highly unlikely by bookmakers, who make him 4-1 on to be out of the post before the Six Nations.

If he does go, there is also likely to be a large scale clear-out of under-performing players, with captain Martin Corry widely tipped to be among them.

Robinson has repeatedly gone out of his way to praise the leadership of Corry, both men being cut from the same fearless cloth as players, but the Leicester number eight is well aware that his time as captain will forever be associated with the lowest point in England's rugby history.

"Saturday was my 49th cap and in all that time I cannot remember such a sense of uncertainty," Corry wrote in Monday's Guardian.

"Who will be head coach and captain for England's first Six Nations game against Scotland at Twickenham in February? Nobody has a clue at this precise moment, least of all me."

Corry said the constant speculation about his and Robinson's future had been unsettling and made it "impossible to focus purely on our rugby."

He added that the squad, frustrated and angry at their own performances, had gone out and "drowned their sorrows" in a pub on Saturday night.

"It had been a long and demanding month and for better of worse this was the end of a chapter."

For Robinson, it is surely the end of the book.