Hooper off the hook thanks to new angle

A fresh video angle has cleared Wallabies vice-captain Michael Hooper of accusations he threw dirt in the face of England's James Haskell during the second Test defeat in Melbourne.

Birds-eye footage of the incident went viral during England's 23-7 victory over Australia on Saturday night, with some social media users claiming Hooper engaged in dirty play and should have been cited for throwing a handful of churned-up dirt from the sub-par AAMI Park surface into Haskell's face during a scrum.

However, a different, lower angle captured by broadcaster Fox Sports shows Hooper had merely picked up a clump of turf while engaging in the set piece and tossed it away, landing between prop Mako Vunipola's legs.

The turf at AAMI Park consistently dug up under the weight of scrums during the match in a major embarrassment for the Australian Rugby Union, which is likely to make Saturday's Test the first and last one ever held at the venue.