KEEPING COOL IN FACE OF PROVOCATION

Australia captain Michael Hooper insists the Wallabies will keep cool heads in the face of any further provocation from England in today’s second Test in Brisbane.

Lock Darcy Swain was sent off for headbutting in the first half of the 30-28 victory in the series opener when a running feud with Jonny Hill instigated by the tourists’ lock reached boiling point.

Swain was shoved in the face with both hands by Hill, in an attack that went unpunished by the referee, before having his hair pulled.

The 10-cap rookie’s red card resulted in a two-week ban and he expressed his sense of grievance at Tuesday’s disciplinary hearing, stating: “I have never been treated in the way Hill treated me in a professional game before and it hurt, surprised and angered me.”

Australia felt Swain was the target of a premeditated plan and head coach Dave Rennie has spoken to his players – and the officials – over what might be coming at Suncorp Stadium.

“We’ve got to focus on what we can control. We’ve got plenty of roles that are on the field in transitions and everything like that so we can’t be getting sucked into that (niggle),” Hooper said.

“It’s part of the game and being smart around how you come out on top of that is important. It’s always a factor and dealing with it in the right ways is going to be a challenge but a good one.”

● Ireland captain Johnny Sexton insisted he is “fine” and passed head injury tests “with flying colours” as he allayed concerns about his selection for the second Test against New Zealand. The influential fly-half failed an onpitch assessment during the first half of last weekend’s 42-19 first-Test defeat by the All Blacks and left the field without returning.

● Wales boss Wayne Pivac has called up wing Alex Cuthbert as a solitary change to the starting line-up for the second Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein.