Josh Lewsey has told head coach Andy Robinson that England must adopt New Zealand's bold style of rugby if they are to stand any chance of defending the World Cup in 2007.

The All Blacks have taken an unassailable 2-0 series lead over the British and Irish Lions and Graham Henry's men have carried the international game onto the next level in doing so.

They emphatically proved that the structured, limited game plan Sir Clive Woodward masterminded for England's World Cup victory just 18 months ago is already out of date.

Lewsey believes New Zealand have sparked an attacking revolution and has warned Robinson to act quickly.

"New Zealand played a style of rugby that proves it pays off to be bold and it reminded me of the way England played four years ago when we were the most imaginative side in the game," the Lions full-back wrote in today's Evening Standard.

"That takes time to develop and I have spoken to England head coach Andy Robinson about what we have experienced.

"I want to bring that back and work over the next two years leading into the World Cup defence in France to have the mindset to have a crack from anywhere on the pitch.

"We have been given a lesson in modern rugby by the All Blacks. What they [New Zealand] did was pretty simple - keeping the ball and performing with skill under pressure.

"It wasn't particularly new but it showed the benefits of having that approach for 80 minutes. Fortune favours the bold."

When Robinson took over from Woodward as England coach last autumn he promised a return to expansive rugby, but was unable to deliver as his side struggled to finish fourth in the RBS 6 Nations.

When Robinson took over from Woodward as England coach last autumn he promised a return to expansive rugby, but was unable to deliver as his side struggled to finish fourth in the RBS 6 Nations.

It was Wales, playing an instinctive, natural attacking game, that took the Grand Slam.

But while Mike Ruddock, boasting emerging talents like Ryan Jones and Gethin Jenkins, works on Wales' Six Nations defence, the immediate future for Robinson and England will be difficult, painful and no doubt bloody.

Robinson faces some tough decisions. Does he try to persuade Lawrence Dallaglio to come out of international retirement to captain the side? Will he be the man to drop Jonny Wilkinson?

In short - how does he take England on to that next plateau from where they can launch a successful World Cup defence?

Lewsey believes it must be the New Zealand way.