The Wallabies will definitely have to go into their first Bledisloe Cup encounter with the All Blacks in Melbourne this weekend without play-maker Quade Cooper.
The Australian outside half has had his appeal against a two-week suspension for a dangerous tackle against South Africa in Brisbane last weekend thrown out by a SANZAR Appeals Committee.
Cooper was cited for a tip-up tackle in the 54th minute of last weekend’s 30-13 victory over the Springboks and was handed a two-week ban. He appealed the decision, but a SANZAR Appeals Committee comprising Peter Hobbs (New Zealand), Terry Willis (Australia) and Peter Ingwersen (South Africa) upheld the original decision..
The player's appeal was based on interpretations of rugby laws, their application in this case, and whether the subsequent penalty imposed was appropriate.
Appeals Committee Chairman Peter Hobbs said the committee considered the judicial officer's original decision, all the evidence put before him including the video footage, and the appeal submissions made on Cooper's behalf.
Mr Hobbs said the arguments on Cooper's behalf were comprehensive and complex and required careful and thorough consideration of IRB Regulation 17, the laws of the game, and Cooper's grounds for appeal.
After a lengthy teleconference hearing, and deliberations, the committee dismissed the appeal. Cooper's original suspension imposed by the judicial officer stands and he remains ineligible for selection for two weeks up to including Sunday, 8 August 2010.
