8 Nov 2010

Mealamu cited for headbutt, Franks coming home

8:02 am on 8 November 2010

The All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu has been cited for headbutting England captain Lewis Moody during New Zealand's 26-16 win over the hosts at Twickenham on Sunday morning.

Fresh from arriving in Edinburgh ahead of this weekend's clash with Scotland coach Graham Henry learning Mealamu had been cited for an incident that left Moody prone on the pitch and his team-mates furious.

Henry concedes he hasn't had a chance to view the incident but says he believes it was purely accidental.

The citing comes on the back of news that prop Ben Franks will return to New Zealand after suffering a bulged disc the night before the England test.

Franks will be replaced by Wellington's Neemia Tialata.

No date has been set for Mealamu's hearing but the All Blacks will be sweating on the result with their hooker coffers looking a tad thin with Andrew Hore having not played rugby since May Hika Elliot inexperienced at test level.