MONDAY'S indications that centre Jonathan Bell and flank forward David Corkery would be fit to play against England in the International Championship at Lansdowne Road on Saturday were given substance yesterday when the team had two training sessions at the University of Limerick complex. Ireland manager Pat Whelan said last night that the confident expectation is that both will play.

Bell, under treatment for a rib cartilage injury, once more took a full part in the training yesterday. Corkery, who has a broken bone in the third finger of his right hand, has been told not to undertake any physical contact as a precaution. He will train tomorrow when a decision on his fitness will be taken.

Loose head prop Nick Popplewell, who is under treatment for a slight hamstring strain, did some light training yesterday and Whelan is also confident that he will be fit. "All the indications are that he will also play, but as a precaution all he did was some jogging."

There is, however, a change in the Ireland A side to meet England at Donnybrook on Friday and there could be a second. Shannon flanker Eddie Halvey is out of the side because of an ankle injury and there is a considerable doubt about the fitness of Halvey's Shannon club-mate Mick Galwey, who has a back injury. He was unable to do any training yesterday and nor was A team out-half Paul Burke, who sustained an eye injury on Monday. The position about his fitness will be clarified today depending on the outcome of a medical report.

Whelan said last night that the replacement for Halvey will be named today when a decision on Galwey may also be made. If Galwey is ruled out, then Shane Leahy, who is a nominated replacement, seems the likely man to come in. He played for Ireland A in the win over South Africa last November. There is also a vacancy to be filled on the A team bench and Victor Costello could be the man to fill that.

The vacancy left in the centre on the A team is dependent on Bell's fitness. Kurt McQuilkin is on standby to replace Bell should the need arise; if not, he is due to play for the A side.

Phil Greening, England's reserve hooker, is out of the squad to play in Dublin with damaged knee ligaments. His place on the replacement bench will be taken by Richard Cockerill (Leicester), who is in the Five Nations squad for the first time.

But Wasps scrum-half Andy Gomarsall reported fit when England started their preparations yesterday. Gomarsall has recovered from shoulder and knee injuries.

English champions Bath are set to announce John Hall's successor within the next 48 hours. Hall last night parted company with the club, ending a 16-year association that began as a player, then team manager and finally director of rugby.

Bath issued a brief three-line statement confirming that Hall had gone just 72 hours after they crashed out of the Pilkington Cup 39-28 in the sixth round to arch rivals Leicester.

Hall delivered a terse "no comment" when contacted at his Wiltshire home, refusing to go into any detail or declare whether he will be making any statement in due course.

Bath's chief executive, former England wing Tony Swift, said Hall's loss was a very sad day for the club.

"I do not want to go into the whys and wherefores of this decision, as I am a very close friend of John's. But things haven't worked out as we had hoped," he said.

"This is obviously very unsettling for all concerned with the club, but I would anticipate that in the next couple of days we will be making a couple of additions to our coaching staff.

"I am not a great titles man, I look upon it more as bringing in people who will add to our level of coaching expertise - more of a team thing really, although clearly there has got to be a leader."

Swift revealed that Bath's search does not extend abroad, which will fuel speculation that former London Irish coach Clive Woodward is likely to be brought on board.

The former England and Leicester centre has been linked with a role at the Recreation Ground ever since coach Brian Ashton quit last month.

Woodward watched Bath crash out of the Cup on Saturday, and it is thought that negotiations have been underway for some time for his release to Bath at various stages of the week.

Woodward is currently involved with a successful computer leasing company.