A stunned Wallabies outfit is expected to appeal playmaker Quade Cooper's agonising two-match ban which has significantly dented their Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations hopes.

The jubilation of an uplifting 30-13 Tri-Nations triumph over South Africa didn't last long on Sunday morning as Cooper was rubbed out of the next fortnight's action when Australia play the All Blacks in Melbourne and Christchurch.

The loss of the 22-year-old five-eighth, Australia's most dangerous attacking player, is a monstrous blow.

One didn't need to look too far to gauge the reaction of disconsolate Cooper's teammates who were angered and shocked by what was viewed as an overly harsh punishment for a dangerous tackle on Morne Steyn.

The Wallabies have a 48-hour window to lodge an appeal and looked set to do so late Sunday after it became apparent Cooper suffered a comparatively heavier penalty than Springboks Jaque Fourie and Jean de Villiers for similar offences.

Cooper, who continued his red-hot 2010 form at Suncorp Stadium, was sin-binned for a 54th-minute lifting tackle that went wrong on his opposite number.

Like Springboks centre Fourie, who was also yellow carded for a similar second-minute tackle on No.8 Richard Brown, he was cited post-game.

NZ judicial officer Andrew Squires found Cooper guilty and compared the tackle to that which last week saw Springbok Jean de Villiers suspended for two matches.

"This is consistent application in terms of like penalties for like offences," Squire said.

Australian officials are likely to take issue with that assessment though as de Villiers ultimately missed one Test and a Currie Cup game for what appeared a more dangerous spear tackle on Rene Ranger.

Coach Robbie Deans said they were considering appealing before Fourie was hit with a four-week ban which amounts to one Test and two Currie Cup games.

Unlike clean-skin Cooper, Fourie was also suspended in 2009 for a similar offence and could not be helped by a good record.

Raised in the Waikato timber town of Tokoroa, Cooper was eagerly anticipating his first Test against his country of birth but may have to wait until the final match of the Tri-Nations in Sydney in September.

"Those are things you can't control, hopefully I get a chance to play and be out on the field as soon as possible," he said. "To come off a good hard win over the Boks last night and to come here is very disappointing."

Berrick Barnes stands as Cooper's likely replacement after last year being groomed to switch to five-eighth from inside centre in his playmaking combination with Matt Giteau before injury struck.

Deans also has the option of promoting uncapped Queensland centre Anthony Faingaa to play outside Giteau but Barnes has 23 Tests of experience on his side.

"He (Barnes) is capable of playing both (No.10 and 12), Gits can play both and we'll have a look at that and make a call," the coach said.

One given is Giteau will start and start full of confidence after regaining his mojo against the Springboks.

"It was one of his better performances I thought," Deans said. "He really squared up the attack for us, and he defended very effectively."

All Blacks coach Graham Henry, looking for an eighth straight win over Deans' team, was impressed with what he saw at Suncorp Stadium.

"They used the ball well, they stretched the South Africans, they had a lot of variety and a lot of guys prepared to ball run," Henry said. "I don't think there's too many weaknesses."

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