Wallabies fly-half Quade Cooper has failed in his bid to overturn a two-week ban for a dangerous tackle on South Africa's Morne Steyn during last Saturday's Tri-Nations clash in Brisbane.

As a result the 22-year-old will miss Australia's next two Tri-Nations matches against New Zealand in Melbourne this weekend and their second Bledisloe Cup clash in Christchurch on August 7.

Cooper's appeal was based on the fact his two-week penalty covered two Tri-Nations clashes whereas Springbok Jaque Fourie's four-week punishment for a tackle in the same match would see him miss just one Tri-Nations encounter and two relatively insignificant Currie Cup rounds.

The decision followed a marathon six-hour teleconference after which the SANZAR appeals committee comprising of Peter Hobbs (New Zealand, chair), Terry Willis (Australia) and Peter Ingwersen (South Africa) ruled against the in-form No.10.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans omitted Cooper from the side he announced yesterday following news of the ban with Matt Giteau moving to fly-half in Cooper's absence, opening the way for the return of Berrick Barnes at inside centre.

scrum.com

28/07/2010