Rugby: Mealamu protests innocence over head-butting charge

All BLACK Keven Mealamu will go into tonight's disciplinary hearing ahead of Saturday's EMC Autumn rugby Test with Scotland at Murrayfield protesting his innocence.

Charged with head-butting England's Lewis Moody on Saturday, the first choice hooker has defended himself, saying: "I'm not like that. No, definitely not."

IRB judicial officer Professor Lorne Crerar of Scotland will adjudicate at tonight's hearing in Glasgow, with Mealamu represented by the New Zealand Rugby Union's UK-based lawyer Owen Eastwood and All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen.

Meanwhile, former Scotland coach Jim Telfer is refusing to rule out a historic first victory over the All Blacks - at the 28th attempt.

"We haven't covered ourselves in glory in the last decade in this fixture but this present group of players have shown in the last year a team work ethic and ambition which could give us our first ever victory," said Telfer.

He also wrote in his STV blog: "Scotland come into the game on the back of three excellent away wins in Ireland and Argentina and should be brimming with confidence.

"The one downside is that Saturday will be their first game together for five months."