Betsen's place hangs on disciplinary ruling

MARCOUSSIS, FRANCE - Flanker Serge Betsen joined up with the French team on Monday ready for the first of two big showdowns this week.

Betsen faces a disciplinary committee hearing in Glasgow on Wednesday, the outcome of which will determine if he can play for the Six Nations champions against old rivals England at Twickenham on Sunday.

Betsen missed France's opening 16-9 win against Scotland on Saturday because of a thigh injury and he is desperate to play against the world champions.

"To play England at Twickenham is a great challenge," he told reporters in soft tones that contrast with his fearsome, battle-scarred face.

"A win at Twickenham would be a first for me as I played there twice in 2001 and 2002 and lost twice."

Betsen, however, knows that winning his 45th cap for France depends on the result of his disciplinary hearing for an incident in the Heineken Cup match between his Biarritz club and London Wasps in Biarritz on January 15.

Wasps cited Betsen after England centre Stuart Abbott broke his leg in a collision with the Biarritz flanker.

"This business has been going on for four weeks. It's weighing me down," said Betsen, who could now be banned.

The 30-year-old confirmed he would plead not guilty when he appears before the three members of the ERC disciplinary committee, Rod McKenzie, Lorne Crerar, both from Scotland, and Barry O'Driscoll from Ireland.

"I didn't intend to hurt Abbott. I didn't move my leg, he just collided with me and he wasn't wearing shin pads. I rang him to tell him how sorry I was for him," he said.

Betsen, who was banned for four weeks for stamping on England's halfback Matt Dawson during the 2003 World Cup semi-final, thinks he has a good case this time.

"I was told that the referee of the game, Alain Rolland, confirmed in his report that he had seen the incident and decided that I had not tripped Abbott intentionally," he said.

"A sanction would be unfair and very frustrating four days before a game against England."

A suspension would also be very frustrating for coach Bernard Laporte who recalled Betsen after France, also deprived through injuries of Imanol Harinordoquy and Olivier Magne, struggled to beat Scotland last weekend.

"We missed Serge badly. He has now recovered from his injury and played on Saturday with Biarritz," said the French coach when he announced his 22-player squad on Sunday. "We are confident he will play. If he was to be suspended, we would call up Imanol Harinordoquy or Thomas Lievremont".

The French coach is due to name his starting line-up on Wednesday.

- REUTERS