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[trypewriter]

- that in sport there is no such thing as a dynasty. Players age, some cannot be replaced like for like, therefore fortunes rise and fall. Great football managers like wenger and ferguson have this in perspective. Do you think that wenger during the arsenal invincible season did not realise how lucky they had been (just look at who they played when they were missing a slew of key players through suspension)?

England's rugby team actually peaked the season BEFORE they won the World Cup - there would be no dynasty...

In short England need to get over it just as Australia have done.

The re-building must start now.

[Alvaro]

True.

But I get the feeling with English teams that it's all about getting to one point and to hell with the future. Too many people are happy to hang on for one last paycheck.

Heck, even India seem to have planned succession better!

[joeljonno]

Planned succession? Isn't that what the developmental squad is for?

There are no "old" players in the England team. All have minimum 3 years age-wise at least of professional cricket, if not international.

Is this just not a great big case of over-confidence and too much expectation?

Look back at Ashes of recent history in Australia. Apart from the most recent trip, it is lost 5-0, lost 4-1, those types of results. It feels bad now, but in a year or two, it will be no different than the other trips.

[Alvaro]

The development squad is an expensive charade.

[ProCricketer1982]

The development squad is an expensive charade.

Tbh all development and under whatever's I crap unless used properly

[The_Bird]

Peoples bodies age at different rates and I think that a few have aged quicker than expected.

Boxing is a prime example of this. Look at Carl Froch, massively exposed by a younger fitter fighter in Groves. Whereas Bernard Hopkins looks in his prime at 46. I think Swann has aged quickly since his Shoulder op.

[iand123]

Peoples bodies age at different rates and I think that a few have aged quicker than expected.

Boxing is a prime example of this. Look at Carl Froch, massively exposed by a younger fitter fighter in Groves. Whereas Bernard Hopkins looks in his prime at 46. I think Swann has aged quickly since his Shoulder op.

I thought it was an elbow op or has he had elbow and shoulder?

[Manormanic]

Boxing is a prime example of this. Look at Carl Froch, massively exposed by a younger fitter fighter in Groves.

Erm, I think you'll find Froch won, and that Groves being the quicker of the two was nothing to do with either man's age!

[smilley792]

Erm, I think you'll find Froch won, and that Groves being the quicker of the two was nothing to do with either man's age!

Contorversionally........

[uknsaunders]

England's rugby team actually peaked the season BEFORE they won the World Cup - there would be no dynasty...

Totally agree with this. They peaked winning the 6 nations and then beating nz with 13 men before totally outplaying Australia on the same tour. They were lucky with draw and the conditions in the semi. They were nearly robbed by the worst refereeing in a rugby final in history.

My point is luck and small margins can make a team look better than they are or worse. Had aus lost Mitch to an injury or the ashes been scheduled next winter then things might of been very different. At that point many of the current aus team might of been pushing mid 30s. Would Mitch been as effective at 34? Haddon, Rodgers, Clarke, Harris might not of made the series or been past their peak.

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[FattusCattus]

Hmmmmm, doesn't feel like a small margin or a slice of luck between the two teams in this series though Nick?

More like a chasm of desire and ability!

[Manormanic]

Contorversionally........

Really? 

Okay, I recognise that some people thought the stoppage was slightly premature, but what did Groves expect turning his back on a guy who was beating the crap out of him?  Had the referee let it go on, he would not have lasted the round.  Yes, Groves was ahead on the cards at the time - and quite rightly so - but there was no way he was actually going to win the fight!

[trypewriter]

Totally agree with this. They peaked winning the 6 nations and then beating nz with 13 men before totally outplaying Australia on the same tour. They were lucky with draw and the conditions in the semi. They were nearly robbed by the worst refereeing in a rugby final in history.

My point is luck and small margins can make a team look better than they are or worse. Had aus lost Mitch to an injury or the ashes been scheduled next winter then things might of been very different. At that point many of the current aus team might of been pushing mid 30s. Would Mitch been as effective at 34? Haddon, Rodgers, Clarke, Harris might not of made the series or been past their peak.

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Agree - remember McGrath turning his ankle in 2005?

[Vic Nicholas]

England's rugby team actually peaked the season BEFORE they won the World Cup - there would be no dynasty...

Scores were level just before full time and Elton Flatley's penalty kick hit the post and rebounded harmlessly away.

There was literally 2-3 inches in England not winning the 2003 World Cup at all.

That is how close the margins are in professional sport sometimes.

[Buzz]

Scores were level just before full time and Elton Flatley's penalty kick hit the post and rebounded harmlessly away.

There was literally 2-3 inches in England not winning the 2003 World Cup at all.

That is how close the margins are in professional sport sometimes.

Indeed. With a ref who understood the scrum, Eng would have won the game in normal time by about 20 points too... but that wouldn't have been anything like as exciting.