At long last, some positive news coming out of Carton House.
The injury plague that swept through the Ireland camp was a defining feature of the opening fortnight of Six Nations, but Joe Schmidt looks set to take a somewhat stronger hand to Twickenham as a number of players look set to return against England.
Props Cian Healy and Mike Ross are back in the squad after proving their match fitness over the past couple of outings for Leinster, while Keith Earls and Simon Zebo are sure to be in the frame after narrowly missing out on the 10-9 defeat in France.
The injuries suffered in Paris by Leinster trio Mike McCarthy, Sean O’Brien and Dave Kearney mean call-ups for Munster lock Dave Foley, Leinster back row Jordi Murphy and Ulster wing Craig Gilroy, who showed his fine form with a superb try for Ulster against Scarlets yesterday.
The only fresh concerns surround fringe front-rowers Tadhg Furlong and Rob Herring, who have returned to their provinces for treatment on thigh injuries.
Ireland squad v England
Forwards (18)
Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)*
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) Captain
Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)*
David Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) Vice Captain
Jack McGrath (St Mary’s College/Leinster)
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
CJ Stander (Munster)
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)*
Nathan White (Connacht)
Backs (16)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Patrick Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
Stuart McCloskey (Ballynahinch/Ulster)*
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Jared Payne (Ulster)
Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)
