Fourie and Cooper banned

Fourie (L) is shown a yellow card for his tackle on Richard rown

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South Africa's Jaque Fourie has been banned for four weeks for a dangerous tackle in Saturday's defeat to Australia, while Wallaby fly-half Quade Cooper has been hit with a two-week ban for a similar offence.

Fourie's suspension compounds what has been a disastrous defence of their Tri-Nations title by the Springboks.

The outside centre was cited following a spear tackle on Australia's number eight Richard Brown in just the second minute of the match in Brisbane which the hosts won 30-13.

Fourie will now miss two domestic Curry Cup matches as well as the third Tri-Nations test against New Zealand on August 21.

The 27-year-old, who received a four-week ban for a dangerous tackle on All Blacks centre Ma'a Nonu in last year's campaign, was shown a yellow card for the offence as the world champions succumbed to their third defeat in three Tri-Nations matches.

Cooper charged

Meanwhile, Cooper was handed a two-week suspension for his illegal tackle which came in the second half at Lang Park.

Cooper was adjudged to have lifted Morne Steyn in a tackle and was sin-binned, the offence was likened to the tackle for which Jean de Villiers received the same penalty after the Springboks' loss to New Zealand in Wellington last week.

Cooper's "good record" was also taken into account, although Australia coach Robbie Deans has revealed that the Wallabies are considering appealing the ban which currently rules the number ten out of next weekend's clash with New Zealand in Melbourne.

"Obviously Quade's disappointed, we're disappointed but we're in the process now of contemplating where to go from here," Deans stated.

"It obviously means that we're posed with a different challenge I guess, but it will still be a significant challenge that we'll bring to Melbourne."

Ioane out for season

There was further bad news for Deans and Australia as winger Digby Ioane was ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Ioane, who had been targeting a return against the All Blacks in Melbourne picked up the injury when being tackled by his brother last week.

"He went down, his brother fell on him and the shoulder popped," a team spokesman said. "He's gone for the Tri-Nations."

Deans added: "It's tough on Digby because he got his hopes up.

He's a tough bloke and he's a great bloke and he deserves a lot. He will get a lot. He will be rewarded as an individual he's just paying forward, I guess."