Ford And Gray Await World Cup Fate

Forwards Ross Ford and Jonny Gray could miss Scotland's World Cup quarter-final clash with Australia after they were both cited for dangerous tackles.

The Dark Blues pair have been charged by independent 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 hooker Ford of breaching rules on dangerous tackles, while lock Gray is sweating on an allegation that he committed an illegal tip tackle during the nerve-shredding 36-33 win over the Pacific Islanders which clinched Scotland's place in the last eight.

Their fate will be decided by independent Judicial Officer Christopher Quinlan QC of England at an 11am hearing in London on Tuesday morning.

Both men are vital members of the Scottish pack and head coach Vern Cotter will be loath to lose either of them for the Dark Blues' first World Cup quarter-final in eight years at Twickenham.

Australian flanker David Pocock, though, has been given the thumbs up by independent Citing Commissioner Steve Hinds to face the Scots after he was given a warning for planting a knee into the midriff of Wales hooker Scott Baldiwn 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.