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Quade Cooper is free to play in the Rugby World Cup after being found not guilty of a charge of kneeing by SANZAR.
Cooper was cited under law 10.4 (a) for allegedly striking New Zealand captain Richie McCaw in the face with his knee during the second half of the Tri-Nations match.
However, Cooper has been cleared, avoiding a World Cup complication for coach Robbie Deans following the win over the All Blacks last night.
SANZAR judicial officer Jannie Lubbe took little time to clear the influential five-eighth in a hearing which took 45 minutes in total.
Cooper admitted that his knee made contact with McCaw’s face but testified that the contact was accidental as he was in the process of getting up from the ground and he had no intention of striking his opponent with the knee.
Lubbe found that Cooper’s evidence was in line with video footage of the incident. He concluded that on the available evidence he was not satisfied on a balance of probability that Cooper acted in breach of Law 10.4 (a) and dismissed the citing.
A relieved Cooper can now start for Australia when they kick off their World Cup campaign against Italy at North Harbour Stadium in two weeks.
“I’m just very grateful and happy for a fair hearing and I’m just looking forward to getting on with rugby and focussing on the World Cup,” he said.
“Any time that you have to face the judiciary it’s going to be a sleepless night. I’m just happy to get a fair hearing and now I can get a good sleep.”
While cameras caught clear view of Cooper kneeing McCaw in the head after the ball had left a ruck, the No.10 explained he was just looking to get to the next play of the game.
“There were bodies everywhere and … it’s a contact sport and blokes are going to come into contact with each other,” he said.
The incident was the latest in an ongoing 10-month battle between Cooper and McCaw. It dates back to Hong Kong last October when the Wallabies five-eighth delivered an in-goal head shove to the All Blacks flanker after James O’Connor scored a last-gasp try.
The niggle has continued through this season in Super Rugby clashes between Queensland and the Crusaders, as well as the opening Bledisloe Test in Auckland.
But Cooper denied there was anything personal and said the incidents were a result of both doing their jobs in tight matches for their teams.
“It’s (now) a good time to think back and celebrate winning the Tri-Nations after a 10-year drought,” he said.
“Last night I was happy for the team but I had other things on my mind.”
– with AAP