Wallabies
Australia's Wallabies Will Genia (R) attempts to recover the ball against South Africa's Springboks during their Rugby Championship match in Brisbane, July 18, 2015. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Wallabies Michael Hooper has been cleared to play for Australia against New Zealand on Aug. 8 for the Rugby Championship decider in Sydney. Hooper will serve the suspension by missing Manly Marlins’ rugby semifinal round against Randwick, which is also on Saturday.

Hooper was originally handed a two-match ban for striking Argentina’s Nicolas Sanchez during the international rugby game in Mendoza. However, after the SANZAR judiciary’s appeal was thrown out on Sunday, the 23-year-old flanker has been given the go signal to play for Australia at ANZ Stadium.

"Yeah glad it's over, glad it's wrapped up and I can really look forward to this week and moving forward into the first Bledisloe. It's been a little bit tough but I have been preparing as if I've been right to play, of course pending selection, and trying to get into the team for this week,” Hooper said, according to Sydney Morning Herald.

Wallabies will need a win or a draw in Saturday’s decider to claim Australia’s first Rugby Championship title since 2011. The series decider also serves as the opener for the Bledisloe Cup, where Australia also needs a win or a stalemate to recapture the trophy.

Meanwhile, New Zealand will be without centre Ma’a Nonu for the championship decider against Wallabies. While scans have cleared the Kiwi star of anything serious, the 33-year-old rugby veteran is still badly bruised.

According to The Guardian, Nonu, who suffered a shoulder injury last weekend during the All Blacks win over Springboks, is unlikely to be risked against Australia. New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said the All Blacks will not risk playing Nonu if he is still questionable to play.

"It's too early to tell. We're not going to risk him if he's not right - it's a big season and we've got plenty of cover there, so we'll just see how it goes,” New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said. Hence, the All Blacks have summoned Sonny Bill Williams, Malakai Fekitoa and Ryan Crotty as possible replacements for Nonu, while Patrick Osborne provides cover for Cory Jane, who is currently nursing an ankle injury.

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