THE fantasy world of Nick Duncombe continues with his retention in the England squad for Saturday's Six Nations game against Ireland.

England coach Clive Woodward has kept Duncombe, the former RGS pupil, as one of the replacements for the England team, with Kyran Bracken keeping his place at scrum half.

And if the 20-year-old comes on during the game, it will be his first time at Twickenham playing for England.

Duncombe won his first cap against Scotland two weeks ago as England coasted to a 29-3 victory, with the Harlequins scrum half coming on as a half-time replacement for Bracken.

He said: "I was looking forward to it all week, but obviously it will take a while to sink in that I actually got out there and won my first cap.

"The pace was obviously a bit different from what I have been used to at club level, but I think that I did all right. And to be honest, everything lived up to my expectations. It was a magnificent experience."

Duncombe also played for Harlequins on Saturday, only his fifth game for the club, as they crashed 18-9 to Bath, leaving them in relegation difficulties after seven straight league defeats.

The build-up to the match has largely centred on captain Martin Johnson and his yellow card for Leicester on Saturday after he threw a punch at Saracens' Robbie Russell.

But the game will still be part of Duncombe's rehabilitation after he broke his neck two years ago while captaining England schoolboys against Wales schoolboys in Oswestry.