Woodward - still has work to do (Getty Images)

By Duncan Bech, PA Sport

England's World Cup triumph will live long in the memory of rugby fans across the globe and marks a magnificent achievement, not least because it was delivered ahead of schedule.

The Rugby Football Union's blueprint for success envisaged England claiming the Webb Ellis trophy in 2007 with the Twickenham hierarchy recently handing Clive Woodward an improved contract which would see him remain in charge until the end of that tournament.

But now that England's head coach has exceeded expectation, he faces the challenge of guiding the national side to a second stint as world champions - a feat which has not been managed by any other team in the competition's 16-year history.

His task is to rebuild a team which has covered itself in glory for the last couple of seasons, starting with the ageing pack dubbed "Dad's Army" by Wallaby number eight Toutai Kefu.

Martin Johnson and co made a mockery of that statement at the Telstra Stadium on Saturday and admitted that they used Kefu's words as the motivation for their mammoth forward effort against Australia.

But it is undeniable that many of them are the wrong side of 30 and when veterans such as Johnson, Neil Back, Richard Hill, Jason Leonard and Lawrence Dallaglio do retire, they will leave a gaping hole at the very core of the team.

Jonny Wilkinson may be the sport's superstar and there is certainly no player like him, but he has much to thank his forwards for - they have rarely been outmuscled, giving their young fly-half a glorious platform to operate from.

Johnson has yet to make a decision on whether he will play on - he swatted aside questions over his future after Saturday's triumph, joking "retire? I'm off home to have a cuppa and watch the Simpsons".

He is still the best lock in the world and as England's inspirational skipper his worth to the side is immeasurable, but at 34 there surely can not be too many seasons left in the old warrior.

Likewise the 34-year-old Neil Back who revealed before the World Cup that he would love to defend the Grand Slam next year and dismissed that age was an issue, insisting he feels fitter than ever.

"People ask me about my future plans but I can't give them an answer. Age is the new talking point and it's discussed all the time. I'm 34 but I'm still setting new personal bests in my fitness results," he said.

"Once I reach a plateau and get slower then I'll think again, but that's not happening. The desire is still there and it would be great to defend the Grand Slam next year."

Dallaglio and Hill will certainly not be around at the next World Cup either and although Woodward said yesterday that he wants to see the same 30 players back for next year's RBS 6 Nations, he must have one eye trained on the future.

The front row of Phil Vickery, Steve Thompson and Trevor Woodman are still young in international terms while English rugby has never been short of talented locks, but the back row will need rebuilding.

Lewis Moody is a magnificent prospect and should soon win a regular spot at blindside but the other two places will be up for grabs, especially as the development of one heir apparent - Joe Worsley - appears to have faltered.

Behind the scrum, France 2007 looks a bridge too far for Will Greenwood, Jason Robinson, Mike Catt and Matt Dawson but with Wilkinson, Mike Tindall, and Ben Cohen all under 26, plenty of match-winners will remain.

For England fans it will be a sad moment when their heroes do leave the international arena and although Woodward knows the end is close for some of them, he is anxious they do not bow out before their time.

"I don't think that the team will necessarily break up but life does move on. We'll take it all in our stride and the biggest thing is that this current England team is not just going to be a blip," he said yesterday.

"We have got to keep the momentum going and all these players have got a huge role to play in the future. They have played outstandingly well and you don't want to break a team like that up.

"I have just asked them all to go home and not make any rash decisions over the next couple of months and see how they feel in January or February. It is a great team, a great bunch of players with a great captain and I'm very proud of them."