O’Connell Out of English Game

Paul O’Connell, the Munster lock who made his senior international debut against Wales on Sunday, will not be considered for the game against England on Saturday week. 22-year-old O’Connell (pictured) must undergo a mandatory three-week rest after sustaining concussion in the first half of Sunday’s win over Wales.

Malcolm O’Kelly, the player he replaced in the Welsh game, is expected to be fit after suffering a damaged cheekbone which ruled him out of Leinster’s European Cup quarter-final defeat in Leicester but Keith Wood, will almost certainly miss the England game because of a torn calf.

O’Kelly and Eric Miller have been included in an Irish squad that assembles in Dublin on Thursday.