Wilkinson not cited for tackle on Thomas

News: Jonny Wilkinson is free to remain part of England's troubled Six Nations campaign.

The Newcastle outhalf will not face a date with Six Nations disciplinary chiefs following his tackle on Wales flanker Jonathan Thomas at Twickenham on Saturday.

Thomas, who left the pitch dazed and with blood seeping from his mouth, will continue to undergo tests this week ahead of Wales' appointment with Scotland in Cardiff next Saturday.

Wilkinson, though, has not attracted the attention of the match citing commissioner, Ireland's John West. If West had lodged a possible complaint against Wilkinson, it would have meant the 28-year-old facing a disciplinary hearing - probably today or tomorrow.

Although Wilkinson's arm smashed into Thomas' face, there appeared to be no malice on the England star's behalf, while Wales did not make any protest.

England head coach Brian Ashton has called three players into his training squad as a result of the injury fall-out from Twickenham. Centre Mike Tindall is set to miss the remainder of England's campaign after suffering bruising to his liver. Wing David Strettle (foot) and flankers Lewis Moody (Achilles) and Tom Rees (knee ligament) are also out of the Italy game. Ashton has added uncapped Newcastle scrumhalf Lee Dickson, London Irish back Shane Geraghty and Sale Sharks flanker Magnus Lund to the squad. Ashton is due to announce his line-up for Italy tomorrow afternoon.

Meanwhile, Six Nations organisers confirmed no citings had arisen from the weekend's games. England Saxons prop David Wilson, though, has been cited following an incident during Friday night's victory over Ireland A.

Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones has been ruled out of Saturday's clash against Scotland. The secondrow injured right ankle ligaments in the second half of the 26-19 victory over England. He is expected to recover in time for the Italy match next week. Cardiff forward Deiniol Jones has been drafted into the squad as cover.

France have named an unchanged 22-man squad for Saturday's clash with Ireland in Paris. Scrumhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde is included, even though he came off after an hour of Sunday's 27-6 win against Scotland nursing a knock to his left ankle. They will name their starting XV for Saturday's match at the Stade de France tomorrow morning.

French squad

FORWARDS : J Brugnaut (Dax), L Faure (Sale), N Mas (Perpignan), W Servat (Toulouse), D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), L Jacquet (Clermont-Auvergne), L Nallet (Castres), A Mela (Albi), J Bonnaire (Clermont-Auvergne), T Dusautoir (Toulouse), F Ouedraogo (Montpellier), E Vermeulen (Clermont-Auvergne).

BACKS : J-B Elissalde (Toulouse), M Parra (Bourgoin), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), D Skrela (Stade Francais), D Marty (Perpignan), D Traille (Biarritz), V Clerc (Toulouse), J Malzieu (Clermont-Auvergne), C Heymans (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont-Auvergne).

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times