Realistically for the 2017 World Cup only Sinfield, Burrow, Westwood and O'Loughlin will not make it from the current squad. Graham will be around 32 so should be ok and Roby 31 ish, so aslong as he does not lose his sharpness he will be fine.

For 2014 Four Nations I would select our best available side and include all of the above, should their form warrant selection. After that is apparently the GB tour so the next time England play would be 2016, a year before the next World Cup.

For 2016 I would start to introduce some new players into the squad. It looks like we will need a new half back to replace Sinfield (Myler, Ratchford, Chase, Matty Smith are current options). There is also an option to move Tomkins to 6 as we have some decent fullbacks in Hardaker and Lomax who could fill in. Wouldn't be surprised to see Tomkins at 6 for the Warriors as they also have Kevin Locke.

Jack Reed would probably come in for Cudjoe with Watkins in the other centre although I expect Ben Crooks to be a top SL player in the next couple of years and could challenge. Wingers will be two from Hall, Charnley and Briscoe but there's also Lineham who could come into the mix.

Front row of Graham, Hill, G Burgess for definite with, at present either Mossop or Tom Burgess to make up the 4.

Sam Burgess to 13 to replace O'Loughlin with possibly Ferres and Farrell in the second row. Second row is where we are weakest IMO but the likes of John Bateman, Stevie Ward could be options if they keep developing. I also like Simon Grix from Warrington who could be an option if he decides to switch from Ireland.

At 9 Roby should still make it with McIlorum and possibly Clark from Cas to come into the reckoning.

Poss team for 2017;

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Watkins
4. Reed
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Myler
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Hill
11. Ferres
12. Farrell
13. S Burgess
14. McIlorum/Clark (if he continues to develop)
15. Grix
16. G Burgess
17. T Burgess/Mossop

I dont think it would be beyond the realms of possibility for Peter Wallace to appear in the squad either.

When I first read this thread I thought go for the new broom approach, but I now agree with Smokey - go all out to be as good as possible for the Tri Nations next year. Giving the Aussies a real go in a big game will do more for the credibility of the international game here than anything else.

In terms of changes, Reed would be a better attacking option than Cudjoe, who also seems prone to errors. Apart from that the only change I'd look at in the backs is if Tomkins moves to 6/7 for the Warriors, then I'd make the same move for England with someone like Hardaker at the back.

What we do need to dig up are better reserve forwards. ATM we have Roby, Graham, 2 x Burgess, Hill and O'Loughlin who are definitely of the required quality. IMO we need at least another two standout forwards, because the others are passable at best. Hopefully T Burgess can kick on, but we really need another second row and prop on the bench better than we had in the WC.

We also desperately need a better reserve hooker, although it would be ideal if Roby could modify his game/pace himself to play for 80 minutes.

If everyone is fit, there's no reason why England can't at least be competitive for several years. But we do need to recognise that in some areas we just aren't good enough yet - decision making under pressure, error rates, kicking game are all areas where England need to be better. We also need to recognise that out of the WC squad, there are some very definite weak links which need to be plugged.

If only McNamara's call to Cherry-Evans had gone differently....

Unlike the World Cup, the Tri/Four Nations often see's a couple of players withdraw to rest injuries or have minor op's in time for the new season. Along with a couple of players north of 30 perhaps calling it a day if they want to concentrate on their remaining club careers. So that should open up a few spots for newer faces in the squad in 2014.

True, the number of players playing with heavy strapping would suggest that had it been any tournament other than the world cup then there would have been some significant absences.
Inglis & Slater to name but two.

Watkins and O'Loughlin for England too. Think Tomkins had a bandage or two on as well and Widdop may not have pushed himself so hard to return from his hip injury.