Bell set to prop up England for big showdown

DUNCAN BELL’S elevation to the senior England squad completes a full circle the uncapped Bath prop admits he never dreamed possible.

England's appalling injury crisis has cleared the path for Bell to take his international bow against Ireland on Sunday in a Test debut that seemed unimaginable just a few months ago.

With Phil Vickery breaking his arm while on club duty for Gloucester on Saturday and Leicester's Julian White in the treatment room with a neck injury, the world champions have been robbed of their preferred tightheads.