Ireland will confirm at lunchtime today if centre Gordon D’Arcy and flanker Peter O’Mahony have won their fitness battles for tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations clash with England at Aviva Stadium.

Officials at Racing Victoria have appealed to connections of prospective runners in the Melbourne Cup not to worry about the current outbreak of equine influenza in Australia.

Brian O’Driscoll’s withdrawal from the tsunami match today has cast doubt over his involvement in Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France.