Saracens flanker Richard Hill has denied there is a feud between the Watford-based club and Leicester Tigers despite another unsavoury moment between the clubs this weekend.

The latest incident involving the Tigers' Martin Johnson and Sarries hooker Robbie Russell, left the Sarries man needing stitches in a nasty gash under his left eye.

Johnson was banned for five weeks after being cited for foul play by Sarries last season and there is obvious animosity between the clubs although Hill told the Evening Standard, "There isn't any bad blood between Sarries and Tigers. If there was, it would make it very difficult when we came together for England duty."

Hill will need a fitness test on a dead leg suffered in the 48-7 defeat by the reigning Zurich Premiership champions on Saturday night at Watford and it was a poor weekend for London's top clubs.

Johnson will today be named to lead England against Ireland on Saturday as the punch earned him only a yellow card which meant he avoided being cited for foul play.

Russell has to hope the damage does not affect his chances of playing some part in Scotland's Six Nations match with Italy at the weekend.

Former Wallaby and Sarries player Michael Lynagh was not impressed. "There are no excuses. Johnson should be banned for a long period of time for that," the former Wallaby captain told Sky Sports.

"It`s not as if he hasn`t got form for this sort of thing."

Lynagh also said that the rules should be changed to allow further action against players already penalised by the referee.

For his part Johnson was unrepentant. "I had got hit in the back. It`s one of these things that happens," the lock told Sky Sports.