The London Irish flyer is certainly no stranger to disciplinary problems having missed this year’s RBS 6 Nations while serving an eight-week ban for pushing an anti-doping official.

Mark Cueto will be odds-on favourite to reclaim the starting left-wing jersey for the France clash but should they overcome Les Bleus, Armitage would be available for selection again in the semi-final.

And Martin Johnson admitted that while it was a blow to lose Armitage he felt his squad was more than equipped to cope in his absence.

“It's a shame to lose Delon as he has played well but these things happen and we have some quality wings in Mark Cueto and Matt Banahan to chose from," said Johnson.

Cueto meanwhile has also confessed to having something of a temper tantrum when discovering that Armitage had been selected ahead of him for the Scotland encounter.

'I spat my dummy out on the day I was told,' he said, before reasoning, 'But it is a squad effort.'

“To play the way I did and score the hat-trick, it was disappointing to find out I wasn't playing last week.

“I was 100% fit. The coaches weren't convinced I was 100%. They know me pretty well and they thought I was just lacking a little edge in that game."