With England and Ireland losing today! ! !

Who do you expect to retire from International rugby.

From England i think it will be Wilkinson, Palmer, Haskell, what with Wilkinsaon and Palmer playing in France, and with Haskell going to play in Japan, cannot see him being picked to play for England in the near future.

I wouldnt be suprised if Thompson, Deacon and Shaw, hung thier boots up.

For Ireland O,Driscol, O'Gara, O'Callahan, O'Connell.

That is my opinion what is yours?

O,Driscol, O'Gara, O'Callahan, O'Connell
Four names that have become legendary. There are some players that define an era and for me these four have defined Irelands emergence as a major force in world rugby. In my opinion they're Irelands equivalent to Edwards, John, Davies etc. Great players who will be sorely missed by, not just Ireland but the whole rugby playing world.

POC still has a good few years left. He is younger than DOC. I hope ROG goes as we need to back Sexton and develop Keatley.

POC is only about 32, and DOC is about 33 I think. As second rows they can both keep going quote easily, just look at Shaw. I think that Thompson, Wilko, Tindall, Shaw, Easter, Cueto and possibly Moody will retire from England. Ireland may lose BOD, ROG and Wallace.

For England it depends on the result of any tournament and performance review. If no demand of changes in coaching and team set up are forced upon Johnson (quite possible in the short term without any real management structure in place to oversee a review), I suspect we'll see a year more of Palmer, Deacon, Easter, Hape and maybe Thompson. Haskell will be out for a year till his return to Wasps.

The big question for me is who will be the natural successors? If those we think will retire do actually stop playing from tomorrow, who will the international coaches pick? Who would kidney pick at 13 for Ireland instead of O'Driscoll? With Sexton the likely replacement for O'Gara, who will be the new fly half understudy? Who will rule the skies in the Irish boiler house if/when DOC and POC go?

Irish second rows need to be brought on 3 in the squad are the wrong side of 30, centres another area to be worried about. 10 years with the shirts being filled with the same class players could be a year or 2 of poor results whilst trying to rebuild. Could do some shuffling in the backs, Bowe and Earls both have played at 13 but both class wingers.