McGuinness and Bishop fit for training session

Justin Bishop and Conor McGuinness, who picked up minor injuries in their club matches over the weekend, are expected to take…

Justin Bishop and Conor McGuinness, who picked up minor injuries in their club matches over the weekend, are expected to take a full part in this afternoon's Irish training session in Dr Hickey Park prior to the announcement of the side to play England on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Irish Under-21 team to play their English counterparts in Templeville Road on Friday (kick-off 2.0 p.m.) shows two changes from the side beaten by Wales. The prodigious Garryowen teenager Jeremy Staunton has been promoted to the starting XV, while the other change sees Terenure's John Campbell selected at tight head.

IRELAND UNDER-21: G Murphy (Leicester); D Quinlan (Blackrock College), K Hartigan (Garryowen), B O'Driscoll (UCD), T Keating (Blackrock College); J Staunton (Garryowen), P Stringer (UCC); M Horan (Shannon), P Smyth (St Mary's College), J Campbell (Terenure College), M O'Driscoll (UCC), R Casey (Blackrock College), P Neville (Old Crescent), L Cullen (Blackrock College, capt), R Woods (Dublin University). Replacements: J Davis (Dungannon), J Ferris (Leicester), B Cunning- ham (Bective Rangers), C Dowling (Greystones), D O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution), S Best (Newcastle), S Barretto (Terenure College), J Fogarty (Cork Constitution).

ENGLAND SENIOR SQUAD: Backs - N Beal (Northampton), M Perry (Bath), D Rees (Sale), D Luger (Harlequins), J Wilkinson (Newcastle), J Guscott (Bath), M Catt (Bath), P Grayson (Northampton), M Dawson (Northampton), K Bracken (Saracens). Forwards - J Leonard (Harlequins), D Garforth (Leicester), V Ubogu (Bath), R Cockerill (Leicester), N Mc- Carthy (Gloucester), M Johnson (Leicester), T Rodber (Northampton), D Grewcock (Saracens), L Dallaglio (Waps, capt), N Back (Leicester), R Hill (Saracens), M Corry (Leicester).

Gerry Thornley

Gerry Thornley

Gerry Thornley is Rugby Correspondent of The Irish Times