IT WAS with more than a hint of sadness that I scanned through the England rugby squad for this year's Six Nations.

Brian Ashton named a fairly bold 32, from which he will select a team to begin the campaign against Wales at Twickenham on February 2.

Included in the group was Gloucester's Lesley Vainikolo. This selection is one I look upon with great excitement and, if ever a name has failed to accurately describe an individual, then it is this one. The Tongan wing was a huge hit in league and, now converted to the 15-man code, I have no doubt he will form a destructive back three alongside emerging youngsters Matthew Tait (fullback) and David Strettle, who would be my pick on the other wing.

Another eye-catching choice was Wasps rookie Danny Cipriani, who faces an uphill battle to wrestle the number 10 jersey from Jonny Wilkinson.

Ahead of this potentially exciting set of backs will be a strong pack - with the likes of Sheridan, Regan, Shaw and Easter - on which the run to last year's world cup final was built.

Yet despite my feeling that Ashton had chosen a fine and astute blend of youth and experience, there was one name missing from what would have formed my perfect line-up, through no fault of the head coach.

All good things come to an end. But one name synonymous with the sport in this country, certainly during my lifetime, someone who ranks right at the very summit of the game, was absent.

That was because Lawrence Dallaglio has called time on his international career after 85 impressive caps. And this is the reason for my unhappy state - because Big Lol's departure brings to an end the golden generation of stars I have been lucky enough to grow up with.

Twickenham has endured more than its fair share of retirements in recent times -Johnson, Greenwood, Leonard, Back and Robinson to pick just a few of my favourites.

But Dallaglio is right up there alongside his World Cup-winning team-mates in union's hall of fame. Rarely has one individual demonstrated what it means to represent their country at the highest level than Dallaglio. From his tears before the semi-final against France, to his surging runs from the base of the scrum, the number eight was someone who really captured the public's imagination.

I suppose there's just something upsetting about seeing your boyhood heroes hang up their boots. It just doesn't seem the same when the players on the field are younger than you are.

Rugby is not the only sport where we are seeing times of change, the national game is also in for some major upheaval in the coming years, condemning more of my favourites to the sporting scrapheap.

David Beckham, preparing to make his 100th cap next month, is much like Dallaglio and it's rather strange that both are set to leave the sporting limelight at similar times.

For Dallaglio, the days of playing for England are already over. And for good ol' Goldenballs, Capello's axe isn't too far off either, whether he plays against Switzerland or not.

These two sportsmen, although hugely different characters, are the people I would pick out as England's most influential sporting figures in recent times.

Both of them have scooped an enviable array of trophies during their club careers and boast arguably two of the most successful careers in English sporting history.

The pair divide opinion like few others before but, love them or hate them, few have done more for sport in this country.

And, I fear, we may not see their like again any time soon.