Rugby World Cup: Scotland duo could miss Australia tie

SCOTLAND could be without two of their key forwards for Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against the Wallabies after Jonny Gray and Ross Ford were cited by an Australian yesterday.

Jonny Gray, pictured in action against Samoa, and team mate Ross Ford could miss this Sundays Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Australia. Picture: Getty

Glasgow lock Gray and Edinburgh hooker Ford have been charged by Citing Commissioner Scott Nowland with committing an alleged act of foul play in Saturday’s final Pool B clash with Samoa in Newcastle.

Australian official Nowland has accused Ford and Gray of breaching rules on dangerous tackles during the dramatic 36-33 win over the Pacific Islanders which secured Scotland’s place in the last eight.

The pair’s fate will be decided by independent Judicial Officer Christopher Quinlan QC of England at an 11am hearing in London this morning.

If either or both of the players were to be suspended there would be some controversy over the fact the “independent citing commissioner” is from Australia – the nation Scotland face at Twickenham on Sunday.

Australian flanker David Pocock has been given the green light to face the Scots after he was given only a warning for planting a knee into the midriff of Wales hooker Scott Baldwin during Saturday’s Pool A decider in London. However, Pocock could yet miss the match after sustaining a calf injury midway through the second half.

Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien, though, could miss their World Cup quarter-final against Argentina on Sunday after he was cited for striking in the win over France.