Wallaby flank Hooper cited

Mendoza - Australia flank Michael Hooper has been cited for allegedly striking Argentina fly-half Nicolas Sanchez during a Rugby Championship match in Mendoza this weekend

The disciplinary move follows a 59th-minute incident at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas Saturday in which the 23-year-old Wallabies forward appears to strike the Pumas playmaker.

Hooper came off the bench in a game won 34-9 by Australia and another Wallaby, replacement back Quade Cooper, was sin-binned for a late, high tackle 14 minutes from time.

Capped 43 times by Australia since his 2012 debut, Hooper has scored seven Test tries and contests the openside loose forward position in the national team with David Pocock.

Australia host title-holders New Zealand on August 8 in the Championship decider after both teams defeated South Africa narrowly and Argentina convincingly.

The southern hemisphere championship has been reduced to a single round this year because the Rugby World Cup kicks off on September 18 in England.