Grewcock awaits Peel judgement

England lock in hot water again

England will begin preparations for their RBS Six Nations Championship clash against holders France this week with lock Danny Grewcock's dodgy disciplinary record under the spotlight once again.

Bath lock Grewcock was sin-binned during the 11-9 loss to Wales in Cardiff, guilty of a foot-led lunge on Dwayne Peel, his boot making contact with the scrum-half's face at a ruck.

Grewcock's latest indiscretion - he escaped with a yellow card - came just a week after Wasps rugby director Warren Gatland labelled him "a loose cannon" for stamping on former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio.

Although the 53 times-capped forward was sin-binned, match commissioner John West has until Monday tonight to decide on any possible citing.

And it is the last thing England need, given the impact that would have on a squad desperate to bounce back by beating France at Twickenham next Sunday.

"The same thing happened in a recent game between Bath and Leinster when he [Grewcock] stepped over a ruck and Guy Easterby was cut on the head," claimed Wales coach Mike Ruddock.

"I am not saying it is deliberate or intentional, but it's certainly clumsy. But regardless of any citing issue, he needs to look at himself - that is the second scrum-half I have seen with cuts to the head.

"I am not going to go too far with the lad. It could just be a clumsy action, and Dwayne had just a minor cut."

Last year, Grewcock was cited and banned when he transgressed on international duty against New Zealand. Six years earlier, also in New Zealand, he became only the second England player to be sent off in Test combat.

And on the domestic front, his Zurich Premiership yellow card tally currently stands at a distinctly unhealthy nine.

"It was an unfortunate incident," said Grewcock, who was predictably booed at every opportunity by baying Welsh supporters following his return to the Millennium Stadium action.

"I don't aim to go out and pick up yellow cards. It was unfortunate. If the next game I am involved in, the ball is at the back of a ruck and I feel I can step over and disrupt it, then I will do that."

Perhaps of more concern to Grewcock will be his largely ineffective display amid a strangely subdued English forward effort.

Only Grewcock's second-row partner Ben Kay performed with anything like true international class, and England head coach Andy Robinson must surely assess the starting claims of prop Phil Vickery, lock Steve Borthwick, scrum-half Harry Ellis and fly-half/centre Olly Barkley when he sits down in selection this week.

"We are not going to panic," insisted Robinson. "We need to take the game to France next weekend. It won't be easy.

"I have been in this position at club and at international level. Yes, we are all disappointed, but we will take it on the chin. Wales deserved to win the game, but let's not overreact."

England were undone by Welsh sensation Gavin Henson's late long-range penalty, but it was another poor performance as they lost their seventh game in the last 10 Tests.

The absence of injured stars such as Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall, Richard Hill, Lewis Moody and Martin Corry took an inevitable toll on England, who suffered their first defeat in Cardiff since 1993.

Moody is thought to have a chance of being fit for the French clash, but none of his fellow casualties will feature.

"We cannot lose two on the trot, there is no doubt about it, and everyone has got to have a look in the mirror and look at their own game. There are a lot of disappointed players who admitted they under-performed," said England skipper Jason Robinson.

"I am sure that if we pull together and work hard this week, we can get a result next Sunday. We are not just going to turn up and expect to win, we have got to work hard."