Preoccupied with preserving their Premier League status, a number of them have rested their regulars for FA Cup games and fielded clearly understrength sides.
The Wallabies looked in danger of slipping to an embarrassing defeat to a severely understrength Springboks side as they trailed 17-0 in the first half.
Ashton then took a vastly understrength party to South Africa in May where England, depleted by injury, illness and club commitments, lost heavily in both Tests.
The original "Tour from Hell" was in 1998, when Clive Woodward's understrength England side suffered two drubbings by the All Blacks and heavy defeats against both Australia and South Africa.