Justin Bishop emerged as the only injury concern for the Irish management last night after the weekend's club activities culminated in two English Cup quarterfinals yesterday involving five of the 22-man Irish squad.

Bishop departed at half-time during the course of London Irish's defeat at Loftus Road to Wasps. "He took a bang on the leg," said Irish manager Donal Lenihan last night, "but we don't think it's that serious, and the other players involved in that game, Conor O'Shea and Rob Henderson, are okay."

Lenihan admitted to now knowing how Jack Charlton felt on the Sunday night before an international as he awaited confirmation of all his players coming through their weekend club matches unscathed.

Having heard nothing arising out of the Newcastle-Saracens game, Lenihan interpreted that as good news with regard to Ross Nesdale, Paddy Johns and Paul Wallace.

Ironically, the defeats of London Irish, Saracens and Harlequins in the English Cup quarterfinals effectively ensures two free weekends for five of the first-choice Irish XV and is probably thus a blessing in disguise for Lenihan. The only casualty from Saturday's AIB League programme was scrum-half Conor McGuinness, who departed prematurely from St Mary's 38-0 defeat at Cork Constitution with a slight calf strain primarily as a precautionary measure. "I'll be fine for next Saturday," he confirmed afterwards.

The Irish squad assembled in the Glenview Hotel, Co Wicklow last night and will have a closed session today. Tomorrow's session at 2.15 p.m. in Dr Hickey Park in Greystones will be open to the public, after which the starting XV for the game against England will be announced.

England will break with precedent by arriving in their Killiney base on Tuesday, and their only open session will take place at Stradbrook the following morning.