Hooper to miss Wales showdown
AUSTRALIA flanker Michael Hooper has been ruled out of the Pool A decider against Wales after being handed a one-week ban for charging into a ruck shoulder first during last weekend’s 33-13 Rugby World Cup victory over England.
Hooper pleaded guilty to a charge of foul play at a hearing yesterday, the Australian Rugby Union said in a statement, and a two-week ban was reduced to one because of his “early admission and good behavioral record.”
Hooper, Australia’s vice captain, will subsequently miss the meeting with the Welsh on Saturday but will be available for the quarter-finals the following week.
Saturday’s match at Twickenham will decide which of the countries tops the pool, with the losers likely to face twice world champion South Africa in the quarterfinals.
Hooper’s absence will be a blow to the Wallabies, who have used him and his fellow openside flanker David Pocock to great effect in victories over New Zealand, Fiji and England this season.
Australia has a wealth of options in the back row, however, and openside Sean McMahon and the versatile Ben McCalman both scored two tries and were the best players on the pitch when the Wallabies fielded a second string side against Uruguay.
Fullback Israel Folau could also miss the match after turning his ankle in the victory over England.
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