Australia's Cooper to appeal ban

The Australian Rugby Union will appeal a two-week suspension handed down to fly-half Quade Cooper for a dangerous tackle in the Wallabies’ 30-13 win over South Africa at the weekend.

Cooper was booked after up-ending Morne Steyn in the 54th minute and, despite the playmaker having already been penalised and yellow-carded for the lifting tackle by referee George Clancy, New Zealand judicial officer Bruce Squire QC handed down further sanction in a hearing in Brisbane yesterday.