Freshwater in hot water

Perry Freshwater is admonished by referee Carlo Damasco

Perry Freshwater could follow his England colleague Phil Vickery into the disciplinary dock after an elbowing incident scarred Perpignan's Heineken Cup victory over London Irish.

Exiles lock Kieran Roche was taken to hospital suffering from facial injuries - prompting a furious reaction by Irish rugby director Brian Smith.

England World Cup captain Vickery faces a disciplinary hearing in Glasgow next Wednesday.

He was cited for allegedly trampling on Clermont Auvergne lock Thibaut Privat during Wasps' 37-27 Heineken Cup defeat eight days ago.

Wasps then imposed their own disciplinary sanction by leaving him out of Saturday's return fixture at Adams Park.

Freshwater, meanwhile, looks unlikely to escape close scrutiny by the match citing commissioner after television replays clearly showed his elbow making contact with Roche's face, around the player's left eye.

Smith said: "Perry Freshwater took Kieran Roche out of the game, and losing Roche in the lineout was crucial for us.

"As far as Roche is concerned, he has gone to hospital. He's currently blind in his left eye.

"The touch judge clearly didn't have a good view, but the citing commissioner will no doubt review it.

"We had issues last week (against Perpignan) when one of our players was stamped on the head.

"We've written to (tournament organisers) European Rugby Cup and had no response. These sorts of things simply should not be happening on the pitch."

Irish's 23-6 defeat at Stade Aime Giral ended their unbeaten Pool One record, but the quarter-finals remain a realistic target, especially as their remaining games are against group strugglers Newport Gwent Dragons and Treviso.

Smith added: "We are in a good position in the pool. We've got the Dragons at home and Treviso away, and everything to play for."