should england stick with the older members of the world cup squad or try and use the next few years to get younger partnerships formed?

It should be bye bye to Sinfield, Burrow, O'Loughlin and Westwood at the very least.

Anyone over 30 to be honest.

The Aussies are getting older too.Maybe if we stick while they reorganise?

Agreed.time to start building for the next WC now.

that includes the decision on the coach too.if mcnamara stays then it for the next four year cycle same with skipper.we have made progress these last few years and we need to keep that going.

There is a very strong nucleus building towards the 4 nations and any chances should be gradual.

I guess a lot will depend on what happens with McNamara and Sinfield.

But the foundations are there to build towards 2017.

I think on the back of that performance we should give them next years 4 nations and go hell for leather to finally get an international series victory and that monkey off our backs.

After that, 2 full years building a squad towards the WC in 2017.

What works out quite ideal for us if we go that way is 2015 should be a full GB tour of Australia giving the coach an opportunity to try lots of players and combinations and use that to build a squad in 2016 for 2017.

Imagine a Great Britain tour, and no Danny Brough picked.

Melt down I tell yee.

As an aside, if we do have a GB tour next year, i wonder if any of the Australian based "Scots" or "Irish" would throw their hat in the ring for selection?

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

Pick the best side available for all competitive fixtures. International caps shouldn't be given away on unfulfilled potential.

no point discussing who will be playing for england in 4 years. Where were half our team 4 years ago? Not international standard thats for sure. If the team looks like anything we can predict now, then I think we won't be sucessful. Its new players coming through, and players really improving that will make a sucessful team in the future. Yes the core of the squad will still be playing, but I want players to come in and overtake the current options and push the quality up

I'm hoping that the likes of Williams, Hampshire, Burgess, Gildart, Sutcliffe, Percival, Thornley etc, etc etc will be pushing for places in four years time. They may not be quite ready but they should be in the reckoning.

And if this world cup proves anything, that doesn't necessarily mean players from our current acadamies. More and more have emigrated over the years to Aus, so no doubt some of the NRL current youngsters will have British/English nationality also in order to play for the country.