• Tackle in
USA game not deemed to be red-card offence• Steve Borthwick hails Japan’s victory over IrelandPiers Francis has escaped a ban for his high tackle on the USA’s Will Hooley after his
World Cup citing was not upheld, handing
England a full strength squad to choose from against
Argentina on Saturday.
Francis became the fourth player cited at the tournament amid World Rugby’s clampdown on high tackles for his hit on Hooley after just seven seconds of England’s 45-7 victory over the USA last Thursday. But the three-man disciplinary panel, which comprised Nigel Hampton, Frank Hadden and John Langford – two of whom decided that Australia’s Reece Hodge deserved a three-week ban –concluded that Francis’ tackle warranted a yellow card only.