Lewsey said England are looking forward under their new coaching team

England have struggled since winning the 2003 World Cup and suffered a 31-6 loss to France this year which Lewsey has described as a "shambles".

Lewsey was also part of the 2005 Lions that lost 3-0 to New Zealand last year and he admits they were "crap".

But the Wasps wing also told BBC Sport he wants to move on and has welcomed the new-look England coaching set-up.

Interview: Josh Lewsey

Coaches Brian Ashton, John Wells and Mike Ford have now joined the England management team while former Newcastle coach Rob Andrew has been named as the Rugby Football Union's director of elite rugby.

The moves have been made to improve England's dismal run of form ahead of the World Cup next year.

England have finished fourth in the last two Six Nations and are currently on a run of five straight defeats.

Quite frankly we were crap and massively disappointing Lewsey on the 2005 Lions tour

The run includes the record-equalling loss to France in March and Lewsey has given a damming assessment of how his side performed that day in Paris.

"The France game was a shambles," he said. "It was an embarrassment in terms of the players involved in it, for everyone involved in the RFU and for every England supporter, and it is them you feel sorry for.

"It's a sad state of affairs. England is the wealthiest union in the world with the biggest player base and a competitive league and there is no reason why we shouldn't be the best in the world.

"That's why changes have been made and everyone now feels very positive and very supportive towards the guys that have been brought in."

Lewsey took part in a three-day training camp at Loughborough this week and has declared it a big success despite 23 of England's 40-man elite squad being injured.

"There was a lot of point to it, actually," he said. "We've got a fresh new bunch of coaches, a new set-up, and it's been really enjoyable.

Lewsey reflects after the Lions lost the third Test in Auckland

"We've had some very productive training sessions, especially with Brian Ashton coming on board.

"A line has been drawn under what has happened and a lot of changes behind the scenes have gone on. Rob Andrew has come in and has a really refreshing way of looking at the game."

The Lions was also another disappointment for Lewsey as a squad, led by World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward, slumped to a series whitewash last summer.

"Tens of thousands of fans had spent an awful lot of money on a holiday of a lifetime and quite frankly we were crap and massively disappointing," he said.

"With the players we had it will live with me forever as my biggest rugby frustration and a lot of those frustrations were repeated over the past 12 months with England."

Lewsey was among a number of England's senior international to take a break over the summer to recharge his batteries.

"A lot of the guys had the summer off and feel a lot more refreshed because of it - I for one got away from rugby and that was very, very important," he said.

New Zealand are clearly the best team in the world at the moment and it's a big litmus test Josh Lewsey

Lewsey has also welcomed the influence of Ashton, who rejoined England's coaching staff in the summer.

"What he preaches is a very simple philosophy but it's very enjoyable and it stimulates people and challenges them and that's what rugby players want," said Lewsey.

"It's harking back to how perhaps England used to play a few years ago when they became the best team in the world."

England's first international of the season, against New Zealand, is just over a month away.

The All Blacks are ranked number one in the world and Lewsey has no doubt the match is an important staging post on England's drive to the 2007 World Cup in France.