Alan Quinlan may be set for a wait before finding out whether or not he is to tour with the British and Irish Lions this summer. Following his citing for making contact with Leo Cullen’s eye-area in last weekend’s Heineken Cup semi-final, the Munster back-row is a doubt pending a disciplinary hearing.

It is thought that the hearing may not take place until May 13th as the European Rugby governing body will require some time to organise a panel.

In other news, Leicester and England fly-half Toby flood is out for six months after rupturing his achilles in the nail-biting game against Cardiff on Sunday. He will play no part in England’s summer tours and given the relative fragility of the Lions squad in the fly-half position, any hope of him joining the tour as a late replacement is now dashed.

Martin Johnson has made it clear to his England Squad that not only is the Argentina test series this summer a full international fixture, but that it is the ideal proving ground for those potential Lions who may be called up in the event of injuries to the team in South Africa.

Talking to press, Johnson said: "I texted a few of the guys last week and reminded them that injuries happen on Lions tours. "If there are injuries, the best place they can be is playing tough rugby."

He went on to clarify the importance of the summer series in keeping England’s team momentum rolling.

"This is not a development tour. We are there to win the Test matches. I don't want people to think it doesn't matter because it is a development tour. We will put out our best team available to win that Test match. I get the vibe off some people - not within our party but around - that this is a development tour, it is under the radar. No it is not. It is England versus Argentina. We have won two Test matches on the trot [against France and Scotland in the final two rounds of the Six Nations] and we want to make that three the next time we play.”