Australia’s Michael Hooper free to face All Blacks after one-week ban
Flanker slapped Argentina’s Nicolas Sanchez in the head last weekend but judicial officer pointed to ‘mitigating factors’
Australia flanker Michael Hooper has been handed just a one-week ban for slapping Argentina’s Nicolas Sanchez in the head in last weekend’s Rugby Championship test and will be free to face the All Blacks in back-to-back tests.
The former Wallabies captain will be prevented from playing for his club Manly Marlins against Randwick this weekend but free to rejoin the Wallabies for the Rugby Championship decider in Sydney on August 8.
The openside flanker landed the blow after being held back by fly-half Sanchez while trying to support Dean Mumm as the lock forward charged to the line to score a try in the 59th minute of Australia’s 34-9 victory over the Pumas in Mendoza.
I found no aggravating factors to be present but did find a number of mitigating factors, including Hooper’s good character and repute along with his good disciplinary record
“It was found that Hooper, in circumstances of considerable frustration and in order to try to rid himself of his opponent, drew back his free right arm and ... struck out at the opponent’s head and neck area with his open hand,” the judicial officer’s finding stated.
“I found no aggravating factors to be present but did find a number of mitigating factors, including Hooper’s good character and repute along with his good disciplinary record.”
The mitigating factors led to his ban being halved, which will allow him to serve it by missing the club match, for which he was named as a reserve on Thursday.
“I found this match could not be considered inconsequential and would have meaningful consequence for Hooper given his current competition and rotation within the Australian squad,” the judicial officer said.
Although Australia also have David Pocock to fill the number seven shirt, coach Michael Cheika has enjoyed good returns from using both openside flankers in the closing stages of the first two matches of the championship.
The Wallabies could secure a first southern hemisphere title since the similarly truncated 2011 Tri-Nations if they can beat the All Blacks in Sydney.
If they could also beat the world champions in Auckland the following week they would take possession of the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.
