With England coach Brian Ashton soon to announce his 2008 Six Nations squad, Eurosport's rugby editor argues that he needs to strike a delicate balance between youth and experience, between power and expansive rugby.

A great deal has been written about England's unlikely march to the World Cup final under Brian Ashton (pictured).

How a seemingly directionless squad, packed with players supposedly beyond their sell-by-date, managed to turn things around and come within a whisker of successfully defending the trophy was one of the enduring sports stories of 2007.

It is no secret that Ashton had a less-than-ideal build up to the tournament. After taking over from Andy Robinson in November 2006, an injury-hit England experienced a less-than-satisfactory Six Nations and followed this with a disastrous two-match summer tour of South Africa.

However, with most of his leading players fit and seven full weeks to prepare, much was expected of England, both in the build-up to the World Cup and the early group stages.

Yet they failed to fire and it was not until the quarter-finals that they showed glimpses of being a truly competitive side.

That England managed to turn things around speaks volumes for the character of the squad, and the coaching team. Their achievement of going from no-hopers, trounced 36-0 by South Africa, to almost-champions should not be underestimated.

But there was always a sense of desperation about the way England played in France and too often it appeared to be by the seat of their pants.

Eventually, pragmatism became the order of the day and England realised they had to make do the best they could. Sensibly they looked to their forward strengths, based around the power of their scrum and one Andrew Sheridan.

However, Ashton now has an excellent chance to mould a side in his name. He may not have a great deal of time before the Six Nations, but certainly this year he has an ideal opportunity to get his message across, whatever that may be.

Ashton has always been associated with sides that play 'heads-up' rugby, urging his players to respond to what is in front of them rather than follow patterns set out well in advance.

As a coach he has been credited with giving players the freedom and confidence to play an open, running game, and not to fear taking risks.

Too often at the World Cup England were one-dimensional. For them to beat the very best in the world they now need to find a real attacking edge.

They certainly have the players who can buy into such a philosophy. Paul Sackey and Matthew Tait are now established internationals, Mike Tindall is back to his best for Gloucester and Jonny Wilkinson seems to have put his injury years behind him.

Danny Cipriani, Ryan Lamb, Danny Hipkiss, Toby Flood, Tom Varndell, Anthony Allen, James Simpson-Daniel and rugby league convert Lesley Vainikolo are also likely to feature somewhere in Ashton's plans.

But what Ashton must not do is lose sight of England's brutal power up front. In fact he should nurture it.

In Sheridan, Matt Stevens, Phil Vickery, Martin Corry, Lewis Moody and Simon Shaw, Ashton has a forward spine to match any in the world.

They may not all be around for the 2011 World Cup, but for the time being Ashton should take full advantage of their ability to perform at the very highest level. Experience, and a refusal to take a backward step, is vital.

Throw into the mix the likes of James Haskell, Tom Croft, Tom Rees, Dylan Hartley, Luke Narraway and Jordan Crane, and England have forward riches most European countries can only dream of.

England played some of the best rugby of the past decade when Ashton was 'attacking' coach under Sir Clive Woodward.

In 2001 and 2002, they found a very effective balance between power and flowing rugby. Team after team was put to the sword before England retreated into the controlled, percentage game that Woodward was confident would win them the 2003 World Cup.

Experience has shown that planning for a World Cup four years in advance does not work. So Ashton must be fully focused on winning his next game, against Wales at Twickenham on February 2.

English rugby is in great shape and Ashton has a wonderful chance to help the Red Rose return to the top of the world rankings.

But developing a winning habit must be upper most in his mind. Only then will he have the freedom - and time from his employers - to fully introduce his expansive style.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport