The Hobart-based crew of Tasmanian duo Anthony Edwards and Sam Beltz plus West Australians Todd Skipworth and Ben Cureton followed up its world championship triumph with a fourth place at the London Olympics but has since disintegrated.

Within minutes of finishing at Eton Dornay, veteran Edwards confirmed his retirement and Cureton has since lined up an operation to treat his troublesome back, which caused the crew plenty of headaches leading into the Games.

Skipworth has turned his focus to elite triathlons while Beltz plans to take a year out from rowing with no guarantee of returning.

However, the crew's coach, Tasmanian Institute of Sport head rowing coach Brett Crow, is confident of both sufficient depth in Australian lightweight rowing and also home- grown talent to maintain its Tasmanian quota.

This is likely to focus around Tamar clubmates Ali Foot, 25, and Blair Tunevitsch, 27, who were both reserves for the crew in London and have been competing well together in a pair.

"I think the crew's not in bad shape," Crow said.

"Those four guys were very physically capable of being the best in the world and I guess it is a little bit concerning but I'm looking forward to the challenge of what the young guys can produce and see this as an opportunity because we've certainly got a good crop of athletes coming through.

"Ali and Blair have a huge amount of potential. They've learned lots from the likes of Sam, Eddie and Tom Gibson and the opportunities for them are endless. They've produced some really good stuff in training and time trials."

Since London, Skipworth, 27, has spent time in Switzerland exploring the possibility of competing in ironman triathlons and since returning to Tasmania has been training with Hobart pro cyclist and former Olympic rower Cameron Wurf.

Cureton has been to Melbourne to see a specialist about an operation for two bulging discs in his back.

Crow said the injury did not necessarily mean an end to the 31-year-old's international rowing career.

"People have had this injury before and returned. It could be quite hard but it's up to Ben once he's had the operation whether he wants to row again.

"As for Todd, I think this could be a full-time move. If he can prove himself, he's of the mind that he'd like to do something where he is not relying on someone else. I would not say he has counted out rowing completely, he's just seeing where he ends up."

Crow admitted the crew's hardest task would be replacing the experience of Edwards, although the 39-year-old is now combining his role with Rowing Tasmania to help the TIS nurture its rowing talent.

On the rowing future of Beltz, 32, Crow added: "That depends on his personal life. He has made an indication that he wants 12 months out, but it's in his nature that he won't stop training and the indication is that he will be back."