England rugby union coach Clive Woodward's preparations for the Grand Slam showdown with Ireland in Dublin on Sunday continued unhindered today after lock Danny Grewcock escaped a ban.

Grewcock is available to take his place among the substitutes as second-row cover for Martin Johnson and Ben Kay, following a two-hour Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing last night.

The Bath captain was reported by the independent citing commissioner for two offences of striking another player during Bath's Zurich Premiership defeat against Northampton earlier this month.

He also faced a complaint of unsporting behaviour, relating to him ripping up Northampton lock Mark Connors' scrum cap following a first-half wrestling match that saw both players sin-binned.

While Grewcock was found not guilty of both striking charges, the unsporting behaviour complaint was upheld, for which he received a £500 fine. He must also pay £125 costs towards the hearing.

Woodward has named the same starting line-up as beat Scotland four days ago.

But he has made two changes on the bench, calling up 35-year-old Leicester hooker Dorian West instead of Mark Regan, and preferring Saracens scrum-half Kyran Bracken to Andy Gomarsall.

England: J Lewsey (Wasps); J Robinson (Sale), W Greenwood (Harlequins), M Tindall (Bath), B Cohen (Northampton); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), M Dawson (Northampton); G Rowntree (Leicester), S Thompson (Northampton), J Leonard (Harlequins), M Johnson (Leicester, capt), B Kay (Leicester), R Hill (Saracens), N Back (Leicester), L Dallaglio (Wasps). Replacements: D West (Leicester), T Woodman (Gloucester), D Grewcock (Bath), J Worsley (Wasps), K Bracken (Saracens), P Grayson (Northampton), D Luger (Harlequins).

Updated: 10:49 Wednesday, March 26, 2003