England will tomorrow announce their team to face Ireland in the Six Nations in Croke Park in two weeks time, in the hope that key players will be rested by their clubs.
Coach Brian Ashton was expected to confirm the team next week but now hopes that certain players will be well rested before the third week of Six Nations action on Saturday, February 24th.
"What Brian would like, quite rightly, is the starting XV not to have to play," elite director Rob Andrew said today.
14 of England's players could play in three Guinness Premiership matches at the weekend. These include irreplaceable outhalf Jonny Wilkinson and captain Phil Vickery.
Andrew told BBC Sport: "The biggest issue is that there are three Premiership games on Sunday.
"It will mean (the players involved) won't do a great deal on Monday or Tuesday, will train Wednesday and go to Dublin on Thursday."
The Irish squad has broken up for a few days and will reassemble on Friday morning. Eddie O'Sullivan's players will not have to play between now and the second game at Croke Park because they are contacted to the IRFU and not their clubs.
