'Hypocrites' England go with Johnson

England are poised to ignore Martin Johnson's three-week ban and put him in charge of their rugby team against France in Paris on Saturday.

They will then cock a deaf ear to a tirade of abuse from their opponents, who have already condemned such action as hypocritical.

The final obstacle to his controversial reappointment as England captain is expected to be removed today with a statement from the RFU regarding a date for Johnson's appeal against the suspension imposed on him after a seven-hour hearing four days ago. His action, backed by the Premiership clubs' umbrella organisation and the players' trade union, will almost certainly buy him enough time to carry on as though nothing had happened.

Senior RFU officials believe it will be almost impossible to appoint a high-powered, independent senior legal team and rush through a hearing before Saturday's potential Six Nations decider. RFU president Roy Manock said last night: 'It is my task to appoint the disciplinary panel and I am getting on with that as fast as I can.' England manager Clive Woodward will probably be advised this morning that his captain's appeal can not, for logistical reasons, be heard until next week at the earliest.

That will leave him free to pick Johnson, whose ban has effectively been suspended pending the appeal. The decision will be Woodward's, and his alone. Having backed him all the way, Woodward will have no hesitation in picking Johnson, who will have benefited from a weekend's rest.

The manager and Johnson have kept in touch since the player's ban in the early hours of Friday morning for punching Saracens hooker Robbie Russell. Despite the row, Johnson is itching to lead his country into the biggest match of the championship. 'I'd rather be on the field,' he said. 'A final decision will be taken in consultation with England.'