Ryan Wilson citing '˜harsh', says ex-Scotland captain Jason White

Ryan Wilson claims a high ball during the Calcutta Cup match. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

The back-row forward faces a NatWest Six Nations disciplinary hearing today after being reported by the independent citing commissioner for allegedly “making contact with the eye area” of his England opposite number Nathan Hughes.

In the 37th minute of Saturday’s game Wilson was pinned to the ground by Hughes off the ball and appeared to drag his hand down the Englishman’s face. The citing comes under Law 9.12 which is distinct from the more serious charge of “contact with the eyes”, known as “gouging”, but still carries the threat of a minimum four-week ban, which would end Wilson’s Six Nations.

Three-time Calcutta Cup winner White said: “It looked harsh to me. It is such a tough area. If there is any contact near the eyes, slow motion makes it look a lot worse than it is. I don’t believe he has done it intentionally and hopefully it’s dismissed.”

Referee Nigel Owens had a word with both players and, after receiving no complaints or explanation of any problem, told both players to get on with the game.

“If it had been bad you expect Nathan Hughes to come up and say to the ref, ‘look at my eye’, but as far as I know he didn’t do that. That is a pretty good sign if there has been anything untoward,” said former back-rower White, who enjoyed success in the fixture in 2000, 2006 as captain and again in 2008, which was Scotland’s last victory over the auld enemy until the magnificent 25-13 win on Saturday.

Wilson has also been implicated in the other major point of acrimony of the weekend’s aftermath - the alleged pre-match tunnel bust-up with Owen Farrell.

That matter has not been pursued through the citing procedure, with both unions asked to give their version of events instead. Available footage has proved inconclusive that anything serious took place and White has seen nothing to convince him the Scot has any case to answer.

“What I have seen on social media from the clip from up above it looks to me as if Owen Farrell has misbehaved in pushing his way through,” said White. “I am guessing Ryan Wilson turned round and saw who it was and quite rightly reacted.

“If you put yourself in your shoes. He [Wilson] is mentally getting himself ready to put his body on the line and to go through 80 minutes of pain, pretty much. Of pushing his body to the limits.

“If an opposition player comes up and gives you a nudge in the back, or clipped Ryan’s head, or something like he [Farrell] did and you don’t see him you are going to react.

“I am sure the Scotland squad would have targeted Owen Farrell and to be fair on him he was very good at the weekend. If you are a Scotland squad, you go for him, you go for the strengths.

“I have always had the impression of Owen Farrell, who I am sure is a top guy off the pitch, that on the pitch his determination to win means he will push the boundaries.

“He was pushing it there. My impression is that he made a choice to clip one of the Scotland players. If it had been somebody other than Ryan Wilson they may not have reacted quite as strongly. Ryan has shown there he is not scared of coming forward to defend himself, to defend the jersey and his team-mates.”