Fourie was banned for four weeks for a dangerous tackle in last year's Tri-Nations

South Africa centre Jaque Fourie has been banned for four weeks for a dangerous tackle during Saturday's 30-13 Tri-Nations defeat by Australia.

The 27-year-old was cited for a spear tackle on the Wallabies' Richard Brown.

Fourie will miss two Currie Cup matches and the third Tri-Nations test against New Zealand on 21 August.

Australia fly-half Quade Cooper was also cited for a dangerous tackle but was only handed a two-week ban because of "mitigating circumstances".

Cooper's previous good disciplinary record was one factor taken into consideration, but the 22-year-old will now miss next Saturday's match against New Zealand in Melbourne and the 7 August Bledisloe Cup test in Christchurch following his spear tackle on opposite number Morne Steyn, for which he was sin-binned.

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

Fourie, who received a four-week ban for a dangerous tackle on All Blacks centre Ma'a Nonu in last year's Tri-Nations, is the third Springbok player in three weeks to be suspended during this year's competition.

Lock Bakkies Botha was banned for nine weeks for headbutting New Zealand half-back Jimmy Cowan in South Africa's opening match 32-12 loss, while Jean de Villiers was banned for two weeks for a dangerous tackle on Rene Ranger in the first half of his side's 31-17 defeat by New Zealand on 17 July.

The latest suspension further diminishes the slim hopes the world champions have of retaining the Tri-Nations title they won last year.

They failed to take a single point from their away matches, suffering three straight defeats for the first time since 2007.

The Springboks next face the All Blacks in Johannesburg on 21 August before two encounters with the Wallabies in Pretoria on 28 August and Bloemfontein on 4 September.

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