SYDNEY - England's World Cup team, criticised as arrogant, boring and old before Saturday's 20-17 win over Australia, are all expected to be available for next year's Six Nations championship.
"It's up to the players. All I would say to them all is just leave it now until January, February," said
coach Clive Woodward. "I'm hopeful that all 30 players will be available for selection when we pick the team in February."
A drop goal by Jonny Wilkinson in the final minute of extra time ensured England became the first northern hemisphere side to win the William Webb Ellis trophy.
"We have to keep this momentum going, we have to ensure the current success is not a blip in history," Woodward continued.
"What I didn't want was any player making a big announcement pre-World Cup that this was his swan song, he was going to retire at the World Cup.
"I didn't want to bring Dad's Army to this tournament, it's as simple as that. I only wanted players who thought they were fit enough to go through the course."
Number eight Lawrence Dallaglio, 31, who had one of his greatest games in an England shirt, spoke for his team mates when he said: "They have called us Dad's Army. I think we proved something tonight."
Flanker Neil Back, three years older than Dallaglio, said all the talk of Dad's Army had inspired the England side.
"We knew in extra time, Australia would be tired as well," he said.
Woodward, who once captained Sydney club side Manly during a spell in Australia, said it had been particularly satisfying to beat the Wallabies.
"I particularly wanted it to be Australia who we beat in the final," he said. "I think we provided an epic final. We deserved to win and have now won five in a row over Australia."
Woodward said he had been getting "pretty excited" in the coach's box as England made a succession of basic errors.
"At times we were committing silly errors and allowing them to get back into the match," he said. "I think before this match we had barely conceded a penalty at a set scrum with our front row but all of a sudden we had six against us."
- REUTERS
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