In England
Former British Lions captain Martin Johnson today hit back at critics who have called for him to be banned for stamping on Scotland's John Leslie.
The Leslie episode was the fourth time Johnson's behaviour has come under the microscope in the last three seasons.
He said: ''I am not perfect on the field, but show me a rugby player who is.
''I contest the accusations about Leslie, and another of my alleged incidents of foul play was unjustified. I have been honest with the media since being yellow-carded at Twickenham last week.
''It looks bad, but it was an accident. I went in with my non-rucking left foot and caught Leslie in the neck.
''These things happen in rugby. The media can make up their own minds, and if people want me banned that's up to them.
''It is the job of critics to write their opinions and there's not a lot I can do about it. But the referee yellow-carded me, Scotland did not cite me, and I have been picked to play for England again against Ireland. I regret being involved in all these recent episodes.
''When I was penalised against Argentina three seasons ago, cancelling out the try that Jerry Guscott was scoring on the other side of the field, that was a fair enough penalty. Later that season I was also penalised in Wales while Tim Stimpson was scoring and that was a very harsh decision against me.
''Last season, when I punched Justin Marshall in our Test against the All Blacks, I paid the price by being suspended for one match. But you can't look all the incidents together.
''These things tend to come and go and if I have a great game maybe they will write nice things about me.''
qBath and England prop Kevin Yates, who was condemned as an ear-biter last year by rugby chiefs, faces another career-wrecking ban today when he answers charges of stamping on Wasps flanker Paul Volley's head.
The RFU disciplinary panel seem certain to impose a damaging suspension for Yates' alleged foul when Bath lost 35-0 at Loftus Road last month.
Yates served a six-month ban for the notorious biting episode a year ago when he gnawed off part of London Scottish flanker Simon Fenn's ear lobe.
If found guilty again Yates could start another six-month suspension - the penalty recommended for worst-case head-kicking.
Yates is also expected to explain why an estimated #20,000 owed to London Scottish, and #3500 to the RFU in costs and legal charges imposed last season, have not been paid.
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