England's cricketers beat a Don Bradman-inspired Australia in 1932-33 by using aggressive tactics, an approach current England coach Eddie Jones wants his side to copy.
"He's shown us clips to reinforce his point," prop Dan Cole told BBC Sport.
England, who have never won a Test series in Australia, play the first of three Tests on Saturday in Brisbane.
Cole said: "Australia had people like Bradman, and if you played their game they could quite easily win.
"The English adapted their game, played physical with the Australians, and ended up winning the series, which is the way Eddie would like this series to go."
The England management are considering selecting Maro Itoje in the back row with Joe Launchbury at lock in Brisbane.
Cole said England must utilise their traditional forward power if they are to succeed down under.
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"We have to play our own style; we need to play to our strengths," the 29-year-old said.
"If you play Australia trying to play the Australia way, you'll lose."
The Wallabies won 33-13 when the teams met in the World Cup in October - a defeat that led to England's elimination from the tournament - with the England scrum enduring a torrid evening.
Cole said Australia "put us under a lot of pressure at Twickenham" and that England "need our set-piece to function".
Centre Jonathan Joseph, 25, said a series victory in Australia would surpass England's Six Nations Grand Slam triumph this year.
He told BBC Sport: "It's a massive challenge. They are a great side - second in the world - and we want to be challenging the best.
"We have a great opportunity here and hopefully we can do everyone proud."
Listen to BBC 5 live on Wednesday at 21:30 BST for a preview of England v Australia, as well as Wales' series in New Zealand and Ireland's in South Africa. Guests include England World Cup winners Matt Dawson and Paul Grayson, as well as former All Black captain Justin Marshall.
England are preparing for the Test series in Australia by watching footage of cricket's infamous Bodyline Ashes.