WHILE medical advice is encouraging that loose head prop Nick Popplewell will be fit to play for Ireland against England in the international Championship at Twickenham on Saturday, he was unable to take any part in the training sessions on Saturday and yesterday. That injury and a few more kept the medical men busy over the weekend.

But the strength of the England team seemed of more concern to Ireland manager Pat Whelan yesterday than the possibility of having to alter his side chosen for the match. Whelan is confident the team will play as selected.

Popplewell's injury was, however, just one of what the manager described as "a few problems injury wise" after the Ireland team concluded their weekend's work yesterday morning at Lansdowne Road. Second row Jeremy Davidson was unable to train yesterday because of whiplash, but there is no anxiety about his fitness. And while Whelan stated that a decision on Popplewell's fitness to play at Twickenham will be made on Wednesday, he added "we are reasonably optimistic that he will be able to play."

"The only element of concern is about Nick Popplewell," said Whelan. "But the medical people tell me that it is no worse than some problems he has had with a hamstring in the past, and they have all cleared up within a week. If we still have some doubt, then we will wait until Wednesday. But I do not think we may have to wait that long, as I do not think it will have to come to a decision situation on Wednesday, as I think he will be fit."

The manager confirmed that if Popplewell is ruled out then Henry Hurley, who won one cap as a temporary replacement against Fiji, will come into the side. "We will then have to make a decision as to who will come onto the bench," said Whelan. But he added that if they had to take a player off the A team which meets England at Richmond on Friday, "that will be done. It is a simple issue of us naming the player we think best suits our needs."

Number eight Victor Costello missed the session on Saturday afternoon because of slight hamstring discomfort, but he trained yesterday morning, when the team did a lot of scrummaging.

Some members of the A team are also under treatment. Neil Francis missed the Saturday sessions because of an attack of gastro enteritis, but trained yesterday morning, while Jim Staples and Liam Topland did not. Staples carried a thigh injury after playing for Harlequins on Saturday, while Toland has a neck injury. The selectors did not bring in a replacement for Toland yesterday. If he is ruled out they could turn to the under-21 open side flanker Kieron Dawson. Anthony Foley and Paul Flavin also sustained knocks which day, when the A team had two sessions because some of their players were not present on Saturday, as they were playing in English league matches.

Whelan said that "there is no doubt that England will be overwhelming favourites on Saturday. They will be exceptionally difficult to beat. They have a very good side and an especially strong pack. They showed that as they tied up the Scots. You must rate England among the top four in the world.

"They took a lot of criticism for the approach they adopted against Scotland, but they won and that is what matters. I think, too, the English public are a lot more demanding than, say, the Irish. I must say I could see it from the England manager's point of view. The name of the game is winning. That is the bottom line. They have brought Dean Richards back to tighten their back row and he has done that for them.

"They represent a huge challenge for us. They have few if any weaknesses. They have, as I said, a very strong pack, two vastly experienced quality centres, and they have a great finisher on the left wing in Rory Underwood. They are an exceptionally strong side and will be extremely difficult to beat. I do not know whether or not they will try and play an expansive game. I expect them to try and grind us down early on. They will try and get dominance up front and points on the board, and if they manage to do that then they may try and play the running game.

They are going for a Triple Crown and possibly the championship depending on what happens between Wales and France. But we won in Twickenham two years ago and obviously that gives us a certain amount of heart. But Twickenham is a formidable venue for a visiting side," added Whelan.

Ireland have four survivors from the team that won at Twickenham 13-12 two years ago. They are Simon Geoghegan, Maurice Field, Popplewell and Den is McBride.

Ireland will train at Lansdowne Road before flying to London on Thursday afternoon and will have a light session at St Paul's School, Hammersmith on Friday.