Rugby Union : Grayson's injury alarms England

England's Paul Grayson was due to undergo extensive checks this morning on a groin injury he sustained last night playing for Northampton in the Courage League First Division match at Gloucester. The outside- half, crucial to England's plans for the Triple Crown game against Wales on Saturday week, hobbled off after 18 minutes as his side headed to a surprise 19-6 defeat. "It is too early to tell at this stage what the extent of the damage might be," he said.

If that was bad for the England coach, Jack Rowell, then it appeared to have got worse when the flanker Richard Hill limped off after only 20 minutes of Saracens' 24-15 home victory against Orrell. Hill experienced his third ankle problem in eight days, but expects to be fit for his club's game on Saturday and the Welsh match. Saracens' hooker, Paddy Johns, will not be playing for three weeks, however, after swallowing his tongue. The Irishman was saved from serious consequences thanks to the physiotherapist, Sarah Owen, who hooked his tongue back into its normal position.

A consolation for Rowell and England is that Wales also have their problems, with 10 players who finished the game against France missing from yesterday's training session. Richmond's Allan Bateman and Scott Quinnell were on club duties, but the rest of the absentees, including Robert Howley, Arwel Thomas, Scott Gibbs and Ieuan Evans, sat out the session because of injury.

The chances of Scotland causing an upset in Paris and denying France the Grand Slam were increased yesterday with the news that the French captain, Abdel Benazzi, and the No 8 Fabien Pelous are both doubtful for the match. By contrast, the Scots were able to name the same team who crushed Ireland on Saturday.

SCOTLAND (v France, Parc des Princes, 15 March): R Shepherd (Melrose); A Stanger (Hawick), A Tait (Newcastle), G Townsend (Northampton), K Logan (Stirling County); C Chalmers (Melrose), B Redpath (Melrose); T Smith (Watsonians), G Ellis (Currie), M Stewart (Northampton), G Weir (Newcastle), A Reed (Wasps), R Wainwright (Watsonians, capt), P Walton (Newcastle), I Smith (Moseley). Replacements: C Glasgow (Heriot's FP), D Hodge (Watsonians), G Armstrong (Newcastle), D Cronin (Wasps), D Hilton (Bath), S Brotherstone (Melrose).