Joe Launchbury's try gave England hope © Getty Images

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Stuart Lancaster was full of praise for England despite their 30-22 loss to the All Blacks.

England at one stage trailed the All Blacks by 14 points but rallied back to lead 22-20 midway through the second-half. The loss saw England's eight-match unbeaten run at Twickenham come to an end, but Lancaster was pleased with their showing.

"If you went into the England dressing room, we are desperately disappointed to have lost to a team that has been unbeaten all season," Lancaster said. "Our belief in ourselves and the direction we are going is positive. The players have been great role models and they play with pride and character every time they pull on an England shirt."

Asked whether England could win the World Cup, Lancaster added: "We don't talk in those terms. We talk about belief in building a team. when you are putting the jigsaw together of building a team we are definitely moving in the right direction.

"You've got pride in the shirt, a great coaching team and backroom staff and a Twickenham crowd 100 per cent behind the team. All those things help in piecing the jigsaw together to be the best you can be when the World Cup comes around. It's been about winning here and now but also building the team to win in 2015 and that is our aim.

"We were sixth in the world when we started, third in the world now, pushing second where I think we should be. That was the stated aim by the end of this season. We've got the Six Nations to go, a summer tour to New Zealand and if we keep progressing that should be achievable."

And Lancaster singled out both Billy Twelvetrees and Billy Vunipola for praise. He added: "The two Billys, for me, were exceptional," said Lancaster. "Vunipola in only his third start at Twickenham shows what a force he is going to be in the rugby world. Twelvetrees, after having a disappointing first Test against Australia, had an outstanding game."