RUGBY: Clive Woodward has expressed disappointment at the three-week ban handed out to England captain Martin Johnson for punching Saracens hooker Robbie Russell.
But the England coach Woodward will press ahead with preparations for week Saturday's potential Six Nations title decider against France on the assumption that 65-time capped Johnson is unavailable.
The Leicester lock, who was suspended by a three-man English Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary panel after almost eight hours of debate on Thursday night, is banned until March 15th.
Johnson has 14 days in which to appeal; if he lodges a protest with Twickenham then he can resume playing immediately, pending that fresh hearing.
Given that his high-powered legal team challenged the RFU's right to even stage Thursday's hearing, an appeal seems likely.
Yesterday Leicester and Premier Rugby Partnership both submitted letters to Twickenham requesting an appeal, but they relate to the jurisdiction of the disciplinary panel.
Woodward plans to announce his side for Paris next Tuesday. At the moment, it looks as though Johnson's Tigers team-mate Neil Back will skipper England, with Bath forward Danny Grewcock taking his second-row place alongside Ben Kay.
Johnson definitely sits out today's clash with Northampton at Welford Road. Any appeal is likely to be made early next week.
If that happens, and the RFU find they cannot convene a hearing before next weekend, then Johnson would technically be free to retain his England duties at Stade de France.
Even if Johnson appeals, then the ball remains firmly in Woodward's court. Woodward might decide to move on regardless, and not consider Johnson.
Johnson was yellow-carded and sin-binned by referee Dave Pearson following his punch on Russell during a Premiership match between Saracens and Leicester on February 9th.
But on Thursday, during more than four hours of legal argument, Johnson's representatives questioned why their client had been summoned by the RFU.
Once the panel, consisting of criminal lawyer Richard Smith QC, senior RFU vice-president Derek Morgan and RFU council member Richard Moon, decided they did have jurisdiction to rule on what was effectively a disrepute charge, the hearing began.
