LONDON: Wallabies vice-captain Michael Hooper has been slapped with a one-week ban for an illegal cleanout, but the good news for Australia is that he's openside flanker is still alive.
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Hooper fronted a two-hour judiciary hearing in London on Tuesday morning (Tuesday night AEDT), pleading guilty to an illegal cleanout of England fullback Mike Brown in the Wallabies' 33-13 win last weekend.
The punishment rules him out of the clash against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday night (Sunday morning AEDT), with the winner finishing at the top of pool A.
He leaves a massive hole in the starting line-up, but will will be back in action for the quarter final in a major boost to Australia's hopes of lifting the World Cup for a third time.
Hooper's admission to foul play and charging into a ruck without using his arms reduced his penalty to just one game.
Independent judicial officer Alan Hudson determined the offence was at the low end, which has an entry penalty of two weeks.
But he took mitigating factors into account, good conduct during the hearing and good character and the absence of any off-field aggravating factors.
Hooper's absence is an immediate blow to the Wallabies, who are already bracing to be without star fullback Israel Folau and winger Rob Horne against Wales.
But with a quarter finals spot already locked in, coach Michael Cheika will let out a sigh of relief knowing Hooper will be back in action next week.
The winner of the Wallabies-Wales match will finish at the top of the pool of death and get a smoother path through the World Cup play-off.
The winner will play either Scotland or Japan in the quarter-finals while also avoiding a showdown with New Zealand and South Africa until a potential final.
Cheika must now decide who will replace Hooper in the starting side and whether he persists with a double openside flanker tag team combination.
Hooper was teaming up with David Pocock in the back row and the duo caused major headaches for England.
Cheika could opt to revert to a more traditional starting line-up by moving Pocock to No. 7 and injecting Ben McCalman at No. 8.
Alternatively, he could unleash fiery youngster Sean McMahon at No. 7 and keep Pocock at the back of the scrum for continuity.
Cheika will name his team on Thursday night AEDT, with Kurtley Beale the likely man to replace Folau if he is ruled out and Drew Mitchell the front-runner to start on the wing in Horne's place.
