LAWES AND HUGHES TO MISS IRISH FINALE

ENGLAND’S disintegrating Six Nations campaign was plunged into deeper turmoil last night when Courtney Lawes and Nathan Hughes were both ruled out of the last game against Ireland. Injury has been added to the insult of a 22-16 defeat against France in Paris, as two of the national team’s leading forwards suffered knee damage. Both Lawes and Hughes — who was helped off in the 24th minute as England slumped to a second consecutive loss — will have scans on their damaged joints today. But they have been left out of a 32-man squad chosen to prepare for the showdown with Joe Schmidt’s title-winners, who are chasing the Grand Slam at Twickenham. In response to the withdrawal of two members of his starting back row, national coach Eddie Jones has called up Don Armand of Exeter. The 29-year-old made his Test debut for England against Argentina in San Juan last summer but has not featured in the squad since.