McRae on way back as hostility lingers on

Duncan McRae was back in training with Saracens yesterday, never in the slightest danger of tripping over any Get Well cards from Leicester.

The Australian fly half had spent the best part of a month recovering from two cracked ribs as a result of Martin Johnson's off-the-ball attentions during the Tetley's Bitter Cup-tie against the clubs.

'I think they are pretty upset that he got cited in the first place,' said McRae. 'But I'm sure if the shoe had been on the other foot and they had lost a player for six weeks, they would have done the same.'

McRae, resigned to being out of action for another 10 days at least, is surprised that Johnson appealed. 'I thought the suspension had been reduced already,' he said.

'They seem desperate to try a new panel in the hope that they will be more forgiving. 'They must be very confident about getting it reduced, otherwise they wouldn't be taking the risk of having it lengthened instead.'

Despite Sarries' action having been vindicated by the RFU's guilty verdict, it may be some time before full diplomatic links are restored between the clubs.