England hopeful Curry and Dombrandt will be fit to face Ireland in Six Nations

England are still hoping Tom Curry and Alex Dombrandt will be available to face Ireland after both forwards were included in a 26-man squad for Saturday’s penultimate Six Nations weekend. Wasps’ uncapped forward Alfie Barbeary, though, has been retained as cover with his clubmate Joe Launchbury poised for his first matchday involvement in this year’s tournament at the expense of Saracens’ Nick Isiekwe.

Curry came off at half-time against Wales after failing a head injury assessment while Dombrandt has been in isolation since testing positive for Covid-19 last Friday. The absence of the fit-again Sam Underhill suggests England remain optimistic about Curry’s prognosis, with Exeter’s Sam Simmonds on hand to join the starting back row if Dombrandt cannot train on Thursday.

It is more than possible England will field a mere four starting survivors from last year’s 32-18 defeat in Dublin when Ireland took a firm early grip and never let go. With the Vunipola brothers dropped, Mark Wilson having retired and injury having sidelined five others, it may be that only Curry, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje and Charlie Ewels kick off both games.

The hosts are already braced for a seriously physical encounter amid suggestions Twickenham could witness a “bar-room brawl” on Saturday. The former Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan believes the home side will be wanting to make a no-nonsense statement and England’s prop Joe Marler also anticipates a “ding-dong” contest this weekend.

Scotland will complete their Guinness Six Nations campaign without Duhan van der Merwe [pictured].

The 26-year-old has been hit with a three-week ban after he was sent off for reckless or dangerous play during Worcester's defeat at London Irish in the Premiership on