Scott Fardy confident Australia can cope without Michael Hooper

Australia yesterday lost Michael Hooper, one of their two star opensides, for Saturday’s Pool A encounter with Wales in London, but blindside flanker Scott Fardy doesn’t give the impression of a guy who will lose sleep over the news.

Hooper fell foul of the citing commissioner during the Wallabies’ sensational defeat of England last weekend when he charged into Mike Brown at a ruck without making proper use of his arms. He was lucky to escape with just the one-week ban, instead of two. His admittance of guilt stood to him, it turns out, which means he will be available for the quarter-final – likely to be against South Africa or Scotland – a week later.

The development leaves Fardy and David Pocock auditioning for a new face in their back row.