The Wallabies have suffered a monstrous Tri-Nations blow with red-hot playmaker Quade Cooper banned for two Tests for a dangerous tackle in Saturday night's 30-13 victory over South Africa.

Cooper will miss Saturday's crucial clash with the All Blacks in Melbourne as well as the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Christchurch a week later.

A judicial hearing in Brisbane on Sunday morning found the 22-year-old five-eighth guilty of a spearing tackle on opposite number Morne Steyn midway through the second half at Suncorp Stadium.

Cooper was sin-binned for the offence but his punishment was significantly enhanced after being cited by the match commissioner following the game. The Wallabies are now considering lodging an appeal within the next 48 hours.

"Obviously Quade's disappointed and we're disappointed but we're in the process now of contemplating where to from here," coach Robbie Deans said. "We may contemplate appealing."

A disconsolate Cooper conceded he was in a state of shock after the hearing.

"To come off a good hard win over the Boks last night and to come here is very disappointing but at the same time I'm just looking forward to getting back on the field as soon as possible," he said.

The NZ-born flyhalf had been looking forward to his first start against the All Blacks but now must wait until the last match of the Tri-Nations in Sydney in September.

If Australia fail to overturn the decision on appeal Cooper will be available for the two Test tour of South Africa next month.

Berrick Barnes looms as the likely replacement to make a new playmaking combination with Matt Giteau but Deans admitted he could also promote Anthony Faingaa to inside centre and move Giteau to five-eighth.

In a double whammy for the Wallabies, powerful winger Digby Ioane will miss the rest of the 2010 campaign after re-injuring his shoulder in a contact training session on Saturday.

Ioane, who originally dislocated his shoulder during the one-point loss to England in June, will now undergo surgery and is facing six months on the sidelines.

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