Duo cleared for France test - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Duo cleared for France test

England captain Jamie Peacock and Bradford forward Sam Burgess have both been cleared to play in Saturday's Gillette Fusion international against France.

A threat of suspension hanging over both men was lifted when the Rugby Football League's match review panel ruled neither had a case to answer.

Peacock was sweating over a high tackle on Catalans skipper Greg Bird during Leeds Rhinos' 32-30 defeat in Perpignan on Saturday, while Burgess was on report after being sin-binned for his part in a fracas during the Bulls' 36-22 win over Wakefield on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Castleford teenager Joe Westerman is set to win his first cap as a replacement for Wigan loose forward Sean O'Loughlin, who withdrew with a knee injury sustained in his club's 34-18 win over Salford on Friday.

The 26-year-old O'Loughlin also missed last year's World Cup in Australia due to a shoulder problem.

Westerman, 19, the 2008 Super League Young Player of the Year, joined up with the squad on Monday in time for their flight to Paris and could be one of four debutants at Stade Jean Bouin, alongside Huddersfield hooker Scott Moore, Wigan half-back Sam Tomkins and Leeds winger Ryan Hall.

The former Featherstone Lions amateur, who was named as part of the elite training squad last month, was in the England squad that travelled to Toulouse last June but did not feature in the match.

He was also part of the England train-on squad last season but was not selected for the World Cup because of a foot injury.

England have no other injury concerns, with Wakefield centre Ryan Atkins set to win his third cap despite missing his club's match at Bradford yesterday with a slight shoulder problem.

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