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Steve Borthwick has escaped serious injury after being kicked in the face yesterday and will be able to lead England in the November Tests.
The national skipper had an X-ray at Moorfields Eye Hospital today which revealed he had not damaged an eye socket during the controversial incident in Saracens' 19-16 victory over Gloucester.
Although the lock will be out for between two to four weeks he will be available for the first of the Autumn Tests, which is against Australia on 7 November.
Borwthick's injury was caused by the boot of Gloucester's Olivier Azam during a ruck and, although the hooker insists it was an accident, Saracens are calling for the Rugby Football Union to investigate.
Sarries head coach Mark McCall said: "We are concerned at the way it occurred and it would appear it may have been a deliberate act of foul play.
"It is something nobody wants to see. Steve was on the ground and pretty much defenceless in the position he was in."
The club's chief executive, Edward Griffiths, who visited Borthwick at Moorfields last night, said: "He is an amazing guy. There he was in hospital and all he wanted to talk about was the win.
"This kind of thing is an isolated incident but it's something we do not want to see in the sport. I am sure the authorities will look at it."
Azam defended himself over the allegations and said he had lashed out with his right leg because his left ankle was being twisted at the bottom of a ruck.
"I didn't know I did it. Someone twisted my ankle but I didn't know I touched him," he said. "Of course it was accidental."
Another concern for Sarries was the attendance of 7,777 for their first game of the season at Vicarage Road.
Having previously turned out at Twickenham and Wembley, Sarries had hoped to generate more interest and raise their average gate figure at Watford to above 9,000, which would still not be financially viable.
"The size of the crowd was disappointing and shows that the work we have done on the pitch to create a team that have gone top of the Premiership must be matched off it in terms of increasing our attendances," Griffiths said.
He also hit out at some of the fans who booed their own team during a tedious passage of play in the second half.
"The whole club have a clear aim of winning the Premiership and we have made an extraordinary start," he said.
"Against this background, it was astonishing to hear a vocal minority booing the team. At a time when they were trailing by two points and straining every muscle to seize the victory, the players surely deserved unequivocal support.
"When was the last time the Leicester Tigers were booed by any section of the crowd at Welford Road? When was the last time Manchester United were booed at Old Trafford? Ever? At winning clubs with a winning mentality, the home supporters simply do not boo the players."
Sarries secured their win thanks to the boot of Glen Jackson, who collected 14 points, and a try from hooker Schalk Brits.
Meanwhile, scrum-half Paul Hodgson showed his England credentials by helping London Irish beat London Wasps 28-16.
Reader views (4)
A friend invited me to the game during a weekend visit to London. I wasn't surprised at the booing. It was not just for the tedious ping-pong kicking that went on in the second half, that was only the straw that broke the camel's back - the rest of the game was dull, error-ridden and tedious with neither side meriting the 'professional' tag. I won't go again because I have better things to spend £17 on (clue: it's called 'entertainment'). If the Sarries bosses want to get more fans in, they have to realise they need to procide a much more entertaining product on the pitch
- A Deville, Windermere, Cumbria
I was there at the game yesterday and feel the boos were justified. It seems to be the way the game is going at present, kick, kick ,kick, where is the skill in that, I may as well just watch the warm up.
Rugby is a game of power and skill, where is the skill in kicking the ball back to the opposition everytime you get it. Bring back the running game
- Sarries Supporter, Watford
How arrogant the (new) chief executive of Sarries is to compare his team to Man Utd and Leicester Tigers after just four wins. Those teams have had success for decades. And how short-sighted of him to criticise his own fans who actually paid to turn up for a game and were simply pointing out that they want to see passing rugby and not an endless exchange of kicks.
- Tom Johnstone, Muswell Hill London
Rugby is an odd sport in that players are often on the ground whilst others are standing around them with their feet very near sensitive parts. Having seen a person kicked in the face by a horse with no shoes on I was grateful the impact was just with a hoof. Can a case be made for softer boots for all players except perhaps for 3 designated kickers? I find it strange that the priority is getting this player back playing rather than ensuring his long term health. A month seems a bit close if it is an actual fracture.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, Surrey
