The Six Nations will decide whether to take action against Joe Marler for calling the Wales forward Samson Lee “Gypsy boy” during England’s victory at Twickenham on Saturday after his disciplinary hearing when he faces a charge of elbowing another front-row, Rob Evans.

Marler apologised to Lee at half‑time and his remark was picked up on the microphone of the referee Craig Joubert. The prop has been warned about his future conduct by the England head coach, Eddie Jones, and faces a four-week ban if he is charged and found guilty on top of any suspension he receives from the citing complaint resulting from his alleged elbow in Evans’ face.

Jones has retained 26 players in his squad ahead of Saturday’s match against France in Paris, with Saracens full-back Alex Goode, who was not involved against Wales, keeping his place along with Sale Sharks hooker Tommy Taylor as England try to win a first grand slam since 2003.

The Wales head coach, Warren Gatland, believes the matter should end with the apology Marler made and Lee accepted, saying: “It was just a bit of banter as far as I was concerned. Joe said to Samson at half-time it was just a bit of fun and Samson had no issue with him.

“Twenty years ago, this sort of thing was sorted out with fists and stuff and I do not want to make a massive issue of it; let’s put it to bed. I was more concerned with the forearm he [Marler] was cited for and we will see what the outcome of that is.

“Players have got to be aware there are microphones everywhere and that comments are going to be picked up. People get so politically correct and make massive issues of things in every aspect of life, not just sport.”