Unsporting behaviour complaint

DANNY GREWCOCK is in danger of missing England’s potential Grand Slam decider against Ireland after being cited for two offences of striking another player during a Zurich Premiership game.

The Bath captain has been summoned to appear before a RFU disciplinary panel at a Gatwick Airport hotel next Tuesday night.

He must answer two separate striking charges incidents which allegedly happened in each half of Bath's 27-10 home defeat against Northampton last Saturday.

Grewcock, capped 38 times by England, also faces a complaint of unsporting behaviour, which is thought to relate to him ripping up Northampton lock Mark Connors' scrum cap following a first half wrestling match between the players that led to both being sin-binned by referee Roy Maybank.

The RFU said last night Grewcock had been cited for "two offences of striking another player, and one of an act contrary to good sportsmanship".

If 30-year-old Grewcock, who is no stranger to disciplinary problems, lands a ban, then he seems certain not to feature in Dublin on Sunday week.

Grewcock's England captain Martin Johnson will lead the return of the old boys brigade for England against Scotland in tomorrow's Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham claiming that they are refreshed for the final lap of the RBS Six Nations Championship.

Lock Johnson, prop Jason Leonard and flanker Neil Back have all been recalled after injury for an encounter which always fires up the Scots.

And they know victory could take England into a Dublin title-decider against Ireland the following week.

Johnson admitted he could probably have played against Italy despite a slight Achilles problem, but conceded that the decision to miss the match was the right one on the weekend his first child, daughter Molly, was born.

But the reason he was left to watch the match at home on television were rugby-related rather than associated with impending fatherhood.

"I think I probably could have played but it was the right call not to play, to give the ankle time to recover and enable me to train properly in the week rather than miss sessions. Mentally as well, it refreshes you," he said.

After losing to Ireland and France in their opening Six Nations matches, Scotland got back on the winning path with victory over Wales a fortnight ago. The England captain knows that simply running out at Twickenham will be sufficient motivation for them and he rates their pack highly.

"If Scotland can beat England at Twickenham after losing their first two games, if they can then win the next two, their season will be almost rejuvenated so that makes them dangerous," said Johnson.

Scotland international Nathan Hines has insisted he does not care who he is playing against despite the reputation of the England pack which will line up against him at Twickenham.

"I don't care who I'm up against. I've never played against them before, but it doesn't really matter who you are up against as long as you play well," he said.

"Who you are playing shouldn't make any difference. Scott Murray and I feel comfortable with each other after playing together with Edinburgh all year. We have established a relationship this year and know what each other is going to do.

"I have never even been to Twickenham before let alone play there. It is the same-sized pitch and green like everywhere else, it doesn't really matter."

However, Hines admitted having a natural "rivalry" with the English as a native Australian, saying: "If you're not English, you always cheer for the team playing against them but that is because they are playing really good rugby and you have to have a bit of respect for them."

Bernard Laporte yesterday recalled Saracens utility back Thomas Castaignede for France's match against Italy in Rome on Sunday.

Castaignede was on the replacements' bench for the defeat in Ireland, but Laporte, who has hinted some of the team will be playing for their international futures in the final two rounds of the championship, said: "It is logical for him to return to the team as he is on good form and will give the backs some extra punch."

FRANCE v Italy: C Poitrenaud; A Rougerie, T Castaignede, D Traille, X Garbajosa; F Michalak, D Yachvili; I Harinordoquy, O Magne, S Betsen, O Brouzet, F Pelous, S Marconnet, R Ibanez, J-J Crenca.

Replacements: J-B Rue, O Milloud, D Auradou, P Tabacco, J-B Elissalde, G Merceron, V Clerc.

SCOTLAND v England: G Metcalfe (Glasgow); C Paterson (Edinburgh), J McLaren (Bordeaux-Begles), A Craig (Orrell), K Logan (Wasps); G Townsend (Borders), B Redpath, capt (Sale); T Smith (Northampton), G Bulloch (Glasgow), B Douglas (Borders), S Murray (Edinburgh), N Hines (Edinburgh), J White (Glasgow), S Taylor (Edinburgh), A Mower (Newcastle).