England ‘will come back stronger’

LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO took stock of England’s demise during their demoralising southern hemisphere tour, but vowed: “We shall rebuild and come back a much stronger side.”

The battered world champions flew home yesterday from a trip too far, with their ludicrously long 44-week season finally over.

Two Tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand and a World Cup final rematch with Australia predictably proved too tough a task for players who, mentally and physically, were running on empty.