Wallabies flanker Michael Hooper is relieved and peeved after being cleared to tackle the All Blacks in next week’s Rugby Championship decider in Sydney.
Australia’s hopes of breaking a 13-year Bledisloe Cup drought received a huge boost when Hooper’s two-match ban for foul play was halved at a SANZAR judicial hearing on Thursday night because of his clean record.
After a painstaking process, stretching more than six hours over two sittings, Hooper was found guilty of striking Pumas five-eighth Nicolas Sanchez in an off-the-ball incident during Australia’s 34-9 weekend win over Argentina in Mendoza.
But due to his good character and unblemished disciplinary record, the Wallabies vice-captain had his penalty cut to a one-game ban, which he will serve during Manly’s Sydney club semi-final against Randwick on Saturday after being named on the Marlins bench.
While Hooper was thrilled to be available for the Rugby Championship climax – which doubles as the first of only two Bledisloe encounters in 2015 – he was clearly frustrated that his hearing stretched more than six hours and was adjourned on Wednesday night.
“Well, it’s Thursday now so it’s been a tough week, to be honest,” Hooper said. “It’s been tough to have been left in limbo for so long.
“But there’s a result there now. I’m happy with it. I can get on with it now and I can put my focus on towards the Bledisloe.
“But this is the first time I’ve been in this situation, before this having a clean record and so it was all pretty new to me.
“Hence why I was left a bit confused by the overnight wait.”
World Cup winner George Gregan dubbed the lag in the Hooper decision a blight on SANZAR, while Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was just glad it was all over.
“The first thing he said to me when it happened was that he’s never punched anyone in his life on the footy field,” Cheika said.
“It’s not his go and so that was noted and so I think the suspension given was at the very low end.”
Hooper has been among Australia’s best performers in their two Rugby Championship wins over Argentina and South Africa, but must have feared the worst when judicial officer Nigel Hampton QC handed down his guilty verdict on Thursday night.
Hampton dismissed Hooper’s defence that he pushed Sanchez off with an open hand “similar to a fend by a ball carrier attempting to stop himself from being tackled”.
But he found Hooper’s striking offence to be “at the lower-end entry point which stipulates a two-week suspension”.
“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,” he said.
“On that basis, the maximum allowed reduction of 50 per cent was given to the player, reducing the period of suspension to one week.”
He said given Hooper wasn’t guaranteed a start for the Wallabies after being named on the bench against Argentina, it was reasonable to accept the breakaway would have used Manly’s club match as valuable playing time.
tinfoil hat
Guest
What does 'very cynical' mean pk. Is it in line with you 'nz teams are coached to infringe' mantra?
etienne marais
Guest
Hooper free to face All Blacks 02 August 2015, 13:24 Tweet http://www.supersport.com/rugby/rugby-championship/news/150802/Hooper_free_to_face_All_Blacks Australia flanker Michael Hooper was freed to face New Zealand in the Rugby Championship decider this weekend after an appeal against the leniency of his one-week ban for striking an opponent was dismissed on Sunday. Sanzar, the governing body of southern hemisphere rugby, launched an appeal on Friday against Hooper's punishment for striking Argentina's Nicolas Sanchez in last weekend's test in Mendoza. The Australian Rugby Union responded by launching a counter-appeal against the original ban but both were unanimously dismissed by a three-man committee on Sunday. "The committee... dismissed the appeal brought by Sanzar that the judicial officer's sanction of one week was unduly lenient," read a Sanzar statement. "The committee found the judicial officer was correct in the exercise of his discretion that the offending was low-end. As such, the player's suspension from all forms of the game for one week was confirmed." The former Wallabies captain landed the blow after being held back by flyhalf Sanchez while trying to support Dean Mumm as the lock charged to the line to score a try in the 34-9 victory over the Pumas. A two-week ban was reduced to one week because of Hooper's exemplary disciplinary record. Although Australia did not have a test this weekend, the original judicial officer considered Hooper missing a match for his club Manly a sufficient penalty. 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 on Saturday.
atlas
Guest
Yes, site themoan strikes again, where a one week suspension gets far more posts than the test match it occurred in. Similar to Skelton earlier in season, think that topped 2000 posts across several threads. Though, in defence, about 1000 of those were from poster Prk, as this one is zzzzzz
jeznez
Roar Guru
Was recently introduced to the Highland Park 12 year. Has become a favourite at poker night.
Taylorman
Guest
These oz suspensions sure are ramping up the ROAR CPU. Does the ad revenue cover the upgrades or can costs be claimed against SANZAR.? Place might go bankrupt if Ritchie decides to throw a wild one next week. :-)
bear54
Why wasn't the Argentinian suspended for instigating the incident? The IRC's ban on punching are noble but it does create a lot of niggle that must be dealt with at the judiciary if it can no longer be dealt with on the field.
Coconut
Guest
One must do what one must for the good of the country...
The Twins
Roar Rookie
I am with you Clarkie...it is ridiculous to think he can step away from a club game as his BAN and then be back for B1....it should be a TEST BAN not a club game...give me a break
The Twins
Roar Rookie
Latest NEWS this morning....SANZAR are appealing the Judiciary's decision - he is going to be whacked with 2 weeks and miss out on B1 - serves him right....if SANZAR don't stamp out any of this it opens the floodgates to all and sundry....and to say he can serve out his 1 match BAN by not playing a club game is just mickey mouse stuff....COP the BAN Hoops - you stuffed up and now you will pay for it....
Taylorman
Guest
Oh Canada! Oh Canada! Sing along now... (Do they have rugby officials that know all the rules well enough?) :-)
Taylorman
Guest
Trouble with that if you come to the gunfight with a water pistol then the ABs will destroy them and no coach can possibly hold his head up in the name of 'planning'. Not for a RC final.firstly they would carry a 30- 50 odd home loss around with them, split their fan and media base and support, then what happens if they don't qualify from pool play? Everyone will rip them apart from not having a go in the RC. And there are no surprises in this side. Every single one of them has fronted and, unfortunately, lost to the ABs.and they've been playing all year at superxv. The ABs will have a complete dossier on every single one of them, the same one they haul out every time they play and win. And players simply do not suddenly find another 20% or so at test level, so there's nothing Cheika can do in terms of foxing. Everyone needs to front up, put it out there and have a go. No one could ask for anything less.
johnf
Guest
Viva.
johnf
Guest
Viva the Bledisloe cup
johnf
Guest
Not obsessed about closedfist/open hand. Hearing delayed. Club ban part of punishment. Farce much???
superba
Guest
This matter is under appeal .Sunday morning. Maybe he will get a worse outcome .
superba
Guest
Sorry to disappoint you but this matter is now under appeal and is to be reheard on Sunday.There is discontent in some quarters that the sentence - which adds up to missing a club game - is inadequate .See www.keo.co.za
Vic
Guest
Yep saw that Shane - read too fast. Storm in a tea cup
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
you can push a player if he has the ball.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
can't answer that one Peter I'm sorry
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
to the slow eater - but it's clear to you now?