England concern over injuries
Nick Duncombe, England's newest rugby international, is back on Six Nations alert ahead of Ireland's visit to Twickenham on Saturday week.
Harlequins' 20-year-old scrum half helped the holders launch their title defence with a record 29-3 win over Scotland at Murrayfield, his half-time substitution completing a phenomenal rise only nine months after recovering from a broken neck. His role against Ireland, whose 54-10 blitz of Wales in Dublin yesterday increases the uncertainty over Graham Henry's future, hinges on Kyran Bracken, the No.1 scrum half whose leg injury gave Duncombe his cap just seven days after playing his first Premiership game for Quins.
Bracken, anxious to recover in time for Saracens' home match against perennial champions Leicester on Saturday night, said: 'I have to get myself right and I shall be treating it with the utmost care. I'm hoping to be fit for the weekend.'
England will have no qualms about pitching the highly-motivated Duncombe in against the rampant Irish at any stage of next week's keenly anticipated match.
Manager Clive Woodward said: 'You get gut feelings about players and this guy is real international quality. I thought he had a great second-half.'
Any danger of England being forced to take the field without potential match -winner Jonny Wilkinson evaporated yesterday despite fears of a serious shin injury prompted by his early exit on a stretcher at Murrayfield.
He was given the all-clear by medical staff after reaching 500 Test points at the tender age of 22 - lopping a full three years off the record set by Wales' Neil Jenkins five years ago.
