Biting all-clear for McGillvary
JERMAINE McGillvary has revealed he feared he was choking in a tackle from Lebanon’s Robbie Farah.
The England winger was found not guilty at a World Cup disciplinary hearing yesterday after Farah accused him of biting during last Saturday’s match.
McGillvary said: “It’s outrageous. I’ve been a pro for 10 years and I’ve got an outstanding disciplinary record.
“I’m outraged by what it has done to my reputation. I’m not that sort of player. I’ve never bitten someone and I never will.”
The Huddersfield winger, who was wearing a mouthguard, told the hearing: “I felt his arm above my neck, he’s trying to squeeze me in.
“It was pushing on my face very hard. I felt like I was about to choke. As I went to floor it got worse.
“I felt like I was choking. I just wanted to get my mouthguard out so I could breathe. I wanted to gasp for air.
“I was in that position for a while and he has pushed his arm into me. He had it covering my mouth and my nose and all I could think of was trying to breathe.” ROGER FEDERER has been drawn in the same group as Alexander Zverev for next week’s ATP Finals in London.
With Rafael Nadal and Federer seeded No 1 and No 2, they will be kept apart for the group stages at The O2 arena. Federer looks to have it tougher, with third seed Zverev, Marin Cilic and Jack Sock his opponents. Nadal has Grigor Dimitrov, Dominic Thiem and David Goffin. REPORTS ANTHONY WATSON will seek to bring the swagger of Lions team-mate Liam Williams to the England backline this autumn. Watson shone in New Zealand in the company of Williams, growing into one of the players of the series. Now he intends to use the strutting Saracen as his role model as he sets out to light up Twickenham over the next three weeks. Eddie Jones has spoken of the need for England to find some X-factor players in their outside backs before the World Cup and if Watson can emulate Williams, the coach’s wishes will be granted. “Liam probably has one-of-a-kind confidence,” said Watson. “He’s not arrogant or cocky but he’s very confident in every situation and playing alongside him in the Tests was pretty cool and definitely gave me confidence as well. “I feel like I learnt a lot from the tour; from playing with some of those stars like Johnny Sexton and Liam, guys who have very contrasting approaches. “That is definitely something I learnt from the tour, that there’s no right or wrong ways of approaching games, it’s just what suits you.” As with Williams in a Wales jersey, there is an ongoing debate over where best to deploy Watson’s talents. A wing so far in Test rugby, he is a full-back for Bath and at some point this autumn Jones is likely to try him in the No15 shirt for England. Jones is also interested in how Elliot Daly may look as a Test full-back, with alternatives needed to Mike Brown, who will retain the jersey against Argentina on Saturday. Watson declares no positional preference but the extra space at the back would suit his pace and footwork. The 23-year-old is set to line up on the wing after Jones went back on a plan to rest him following his Lions exertions. “The correspondence from Eddie has been pretty thorough throughout,” said Watson. “When we went into