ALL doubts about the fitness of centre Jonathan Bell for the International Championship match against England at Lansdowne Road on Saturday were resolved yesterday when the Ireland team continued their preparation for the match at the University of Limerick grounds.

Ireland manager Pat Whelan was also emphatic yesterday that prop Nick Popplewell, under treatment for a slight hamstring strain and flanker David Corkery, recovering from a broken bone in a finger, will also play.

Bell has been under treatment for a rib injury and Kurt McQuilkin has been on standby. But yesterday McQuilkin was named to fill the vacancy left in the centre on the A team to meet England A at Donnybrook tomorrow, its own firm indication about Bell's fitness.

Commenting on Popplewell and Corkery, Whelan said: "I stated at the start of the week that we would not ask David Corkery to do any contact work and take an unnecessary risk of aggravating the injury. That is still the position and will be the position right up to the match. He has done contact.

"With regard to Nick Popplewell, he has a slight hamstring strain. We are quite confident he will be fit to play. He has not been pushed in training as there would be absolutely no point in that. He, too, has done some jogging and work on the bicycle."

The team trained twice yesterday and will also have a run in Limerick this morning before travelling to Dublin by train early this afternoon.

Following the withdrawal from the A side on Tuesday of flanker Eddie Halvey because of an ankle ligament injury, his Shannon clubmate, second row Mick Galwey, also withdrew from the team yesterday because of a back injury. Halvey's place on the flank will be taken by Stuart Duncan (Malone), who will win his first A cap. Shane Leahy (Garryowen) takes over from Galwey in the second row. Leahy's place on the bench goes to Victor Costello (St Mary's College), while the vacancy left in the replacement panel for a back goes to Mick Lynch (Young Munster).

England will have a new half back pairing in the A match following the withdrawals yesterday of Kyran Bracken and Alex King. Scott Benton (Gloucester) will play at scrum half with Nick Walsh (Harlequins) in the replacements. Mark Mapletoft (Gloucester) takes over from King and Rob Liley (Leicester) joins the replacements.

Second row Chris Murphy is the only member of the England Under 21 team to meet Ireland at Dr Hickey Park on Saturday who played in the team that lost 23-10 to Ireland last season. Murphy will captain the England team.