LONDON Irish's Gary Halpin, their captain and international prop, will be missing for the crucial home fixture against Bath. Halpin underwent elbow surgery during the week but it is hoped that he will be fit in time for the Exiles next league match at Leicester on October 30th.

It is not just Halpin's physical presence that will be missed. He has driven on his team and remained their backbone when temperaments of a frailer nature have looked ready to give up. To minimise the loss, the promising Liam Mooney switches to the other side of the scrum and Justin Fitzgerald comes in at loose head prop for his first game of the season. Despite four successive losses, the last three at home, coach Clive Woodward has resisted making any other changes, meaning that there is still no place for Victor Costello.

"It is still early days and there are still a number of new players who have to be integrated into the team. We are making too many basic mistakes, like missing touch with our kicks," said Woodward.

Woodward acknowledges that beating Bath presents a considerable challenge. Nevertheless, much to the consternation of many at Sunbury who are demanding immediate remedies, he still has the air of a man who knows what he wants and is prepared to be patient.

"I would be really worried if we had been playing well and losing matches. The fact is we could have won all of these games, except the Harlequins match, but for our basic errors. Bath are always difficult and to be polite, we are underdogs."

A few miles closer to the centre of London, league leaders Harlequins entertain bottom club Orrell. If all goes to plan the home side should make it six wins out of six. Rugby league player Robbie Paul moves into the centre for Harlequins, with Will Carling playing his second game at fly half, but it is Spencer Bromley rather than Michael Corcoran who will fill the vacancy on the wing.

Jim Staples and Keith Wood maintain their continuous presence as full back and hooker for Harlequins. The Bristol versus Saracens encounter should see five Irish internationals take the field. David Corkery has recovered well from the hip injury that saw him leave the field prematurely against Sale last week and is expected to be fit enough to play.

Saracen's scrum half Kyran Bracken returns to the club where he made his name for the first time since leaving Bristol during the summer. Wasps have a Sunday match but instead of staging it they visit Gloucester who, like Orrell, are still marooned in the relegation zone without a win.

The Wasps' flawless season is expected to continue and Monday should see the north London club still lying second behind Harlequins but only on scoring difference.

. Members of Courage League One West Hartlepool last night gave their club a mandate to leave the English Rugby Football Union if the battle between the RFU and EPRUC is not settled in time for next week's deadline.

At a special general meeting, 90 per cent of West Hartlepool members voted for a motion changing the club's constitution, well over the 66 per cent needed for a rule change.

The English Professional Rugby Union Clubs (EPRUC) have said they will leave the RFU next Friday if they cannot gain satisfaction from the current power struggle with Twickenham.

West Hartlepool president Bob Bateman, a former player, captain and coach, expressed his delight at the outcome.