Wallaby star Hooper to miss World Cup decider with Wales

Flanker Michael Hooper will miss Australia's World Cup pool decider with Wales on Saturday after receiving a one week ban for foul play.

The 23-year-old was cited for a shoulder charge into England player Mike Brown during the devastating 33-13 Wallaby victory over the hosts on Saturday.

A hearing on Tuesday decided against a longer ban because of "mitigating factors including his early admission, good conduct during the hearing and good character and the absence of any off-field aggravating factors," said a World Rugby statement.

Hooper - who with back row partners David Pocock and Scott Fardy has been pivotal in the Wallabies march to the quarter-finals - will be available for the knockout stages.

Australia will play South Africa, Scotland or Japan in the quarter final.

The incident happened at the end of the first half and caused anger in the England camp at half-time.

"The hearing related to a consideration of sanction only given the admission of the act of foul play by the Player," said the World Rugby statement.

"With respect to the sanction, the Judicial Officer determined that the offence was low-end, which has an entry point of two weeks," it added.

"The suspension takes effect immediately, therefore Hooper is suspended for Australia's final Pool A match against Wales on October 10. He is free to resume playing for Australia's quarter-final."

Hooper's loss is a big one for the Wallabies but speaking prior to the ban announcement, assistant coach Stephen Larkham said there were a couple of ready-made replacements who had performed well.

"(Sean) McMahon, (Ben) McCalman have put their hands up in this tournament," Larkham told a press conference, saying that Hooper has been "tremendous" so far.

"We may have to chop and change. Sean could slot in at 7, or Ben can go to 8 and Pocock at 7.

"It is hard to replace someone like that, but the guys are certainly ready to go."

Larkham, a World Cup winner with Australia in 1999, was asked whether he would have preferred to lose Hooper sin-binned for 10 minutes in the England game or for an entire match.

"I think they are pretty equal," said Larkham.

"If you lose him for a game you get to plan for that.

"If you lose them for 10 minutes that's pretty tough. If we had lost him for 10 minutes, it is pretty difficult in those games to lose someone of that calibre."

 

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