CHRISTOPHE LAMAISON yesterday strongly defended himself after being cited by the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) for a tackle which put Craig Chalmers in hospital.

Chalmers was severely concussed by a late challenge from Lamaison, France's man of the match in Saturday's 47-20 win over Scotland.

The SRU viewed a video of the incident on Sunday before announcing they were going to cite the French centre for foul play. But Lamaison said: "I don't have the impression I fouled him. I went in to stop the move.

"I'm very surprised at the Scottish rugby federation's decision. I don't think I did anything wrong and I think we should talk it over.

Lamaison's shoulder crashed into Chalmers' head just after the fly half sent Alan Tait through for his second try.

French manager Jo Maso said he could see no intentional foul play. "Lamaison did catch him late but he was going in very fast to tackle. It's just one of those injuries you get in rugby," he said.

Chalmers was stretchered off motionless following the heavy tackle in the 53rd minute of Scotland's defeat.

Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Bill Hogg said: "We now have to wait and hear from Five Nations secretary Roger Pickering when the date of the hearing will be. I would assume it would be sometime this week.

"Last year when we cited Jason Leonard the hearing was held on the Wednesday following the Calcutta Cup match. We sent both Jim Telfer and Richie Dixon to the hearing in London."

The hearing is again likely to be in London and Scotland will send team manager Arthur Hastie and two witnesses one of whom, Hogg suggested, would be Chalmers.

"This is all being discussed just now, said Hogg, who stated that the SRU had studied a video of the incident in which Chalmers was injured. "Our viewing would lead us to believe that this was a deliberate shoulder charge."

Lamaison is the second French player to be the subject of a video trial during this season's Five Nations Championship.

The IRFU asked their French counterparts to view a TV recording of an incident in which prop Franck Tournaire stamped on replacement hooker Allen Clarke on January 18th. Tournaire was later banned for one match.

The Chalmers incident marred an outstanding performance by Lamaison, who followed up his match winning 18 point haul against England two weeks ago with 24 more in a faultless kicking display as France sealed the Grand Slam.