Dempsey fit to play against Italy

IRELAND full-back Girvan Dempsey will be fit to play against Italy at Lansdowne Road in two weeks’ time.

The Irish try-scoring hero limped off with 20 minutes to go, after sustaining a thigh injury in the process of scoring. Dempsey, however, has been diagnosed with nothing more than a slight strain of an upper leg muscle and is set to rejoin the Irish squad on Tuesday in Dublin.

Meanwhile, the only other injury problem after a sensational victory at Twickenham, relates to hand damage sustained by scrum-half Peter Stringer. Stringer underwent a scan yesterday and was given the all clear.

“His hand is swollen but there is no break and no serious damage,” said PRO John Redmond last night.