England turn back the clock with last hurrah for their golden oldies

Four years after being dubbed Dad's Army, England named an even older squad yesterday to defend the World Cup in France.

Coach Brian Ashton has gambled on experience by dumping the stars of tomorrow and instead opting for the heroes of yesteryear.Lawrence Dallaglio made it a hat-trick of 35-year-olds by joining Mark Regan and Mike Catt in the 30-man squad.Andy Farrell, 32, also earned the nod, pushing up the average age of the world champions' playing party to almost 30.

Ashton's picks will amuse the southern hemisphere, where one columnist has already likened England's campaign to a pension plan.
"They haven't so much turned back the clock, but launched a time machine to pick their World Cup squad," wrote New Zealand Herald columnist Chris Rattue.

"Having won the Webb Ellis Trophy with Dad's Army in 2003, they are now going to defend it with the Last of the Summer Wine. What a comedy."
Ashton has decided that the tournament has come too soon for 22-year-olds Toby Flood and James Haskell, Nick Abendanon, 21, and teenage starlet Danny Cipriani.
In doing so he appears to have gone against his principles - for this is a guy who has always argued that if you're good enough, you're old enough.

But the southern hemisphere was last night warned to think twice before mocking England - by one of its greatest players.
Michael Lynagh, World Cup winner and Australia's record points scorer, said: "I would advise against anyone poking fun at this England selection.
"England have demonstrated in the past couple of weeks that the strength and the power of their forward play is something to fear.
"I expect this World Cup to be dominated by big, powerful forwards and England have certainly got a few of those. They are big men and once that power gets coupled with a backline which is capable of using that dominance and the possession that that delivers, they could be a pretty potent force.
"These guys will not want to be known as the players that gave back the World Cup."

Dallaglio's selection has been disputed by former captain Will Carling, who questioned the No.8's form and said that he could be a "divisive influence".
But Wasps' boss Ian McGeechan said: "Lawrence has proved himself in every way on the biggest stages that rugby has to offer, not just on the field but also with what he brings to the team environment.
"I've no doubt that as a player and a leader he will deliver for England in the coming weeks."
England will be poorer for the absence of Mike Tindall and Charlie Hodgson, who were both denied the chance to prove their recovery from long-term injuries.
But if Ashton has sacrificed the X-factor that his young guns brought, he has overdosed on 'mental toughness', the quality he believes to be most vital at a World Cup.
He has told those players whose dreams he has shattered to remain on stand-by in case of injuries. And he will now tell those remaining that there are no opponents they need fear.

For while it is a massive leap of faith to believe that England can become the first nation in World Cup history to make a successful title defence, nobody - not even the All Blacks - will choose to come up against them.
by Alex Spink