Friday 31 July 2015 11:23, UK
Michael Hooper has been handed a one-week ban for striking Argentina's Nicholas Sanchez in the head in last weekend's Rugby Championship encounter.
The Australia flanker will therefore be free to face New Zealand in back-to-back Tests next month.
Former Wallabies captain Hooper will be prevented from playing for his club Manly Marlins against Randwick this weekend, but free to rejoin the national team for the Rugby Championship decider in Sydney on August 8.
The openside flanker was called to face a SANZAR judiciary panel after an altercation with Argentinian fly-half Sanchez in which Hooper struck the opposition player after being held back in the lead-up to Dean Mumm's 59th-minute try.
"It was found that Hooper, in circumstances of considerable frustration and in order to try and 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," read the judicial officer's finding.
"I found no aggravating factors to be present but did but did find a number of mitigating factors including Hooper's good character and repute along with his good disciplinary record."
The previous good record of Hooper led to his ban being halved and the flanker is allowed to serve it by missing Manly's domestic match, for which he was named as a reserve.
"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 added.
Although Australia have options to fill the number seven shirt, namely David Pocock, coach Michael Cheika has in recent weeks used both openside flankers in the closing stages of their Rugby Championship matches.
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.
Victory against the world champions in Auckland the following week would also see Australia take possession of the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.
