Sydney: Wycliff Palu and Matt Giteau were on Friday recalled to Australia’s 31-man squad for next week’s Rugby Championship decider against New Zealand, with uncapped prop Toby Smith also drafted in.

The two teams are level on nine points ahead of the August 8 Test in Sydney — effectively a final — and coach Michael Cheika has brought back two of his experienced big guns.

Veteran Giteau returns after being rested from Australia’s bonus-point 34-9 victory over Argentina last weekend having taken a physical battering against the Springboks in Brisbane earlier this month.

Powerhouse No. 8 Palu was rested from both the opening two Test victories to overcome injury niggles but has been deemed fit to face the All Blacks.

A surprise was the call-up of 26-year-old Smith following a consistent Super Rugby campaign for the Melbourne Rebels.

“Toby has had a solid season with the Rebels, and has been working really hard while the group has been away,” said Cheika.

“Our intention was always to rest Wycliff prior to this camp, and he has come back in great shape and really eager to play.”

Cheika added that the squad was starting to come together ahead of the September-October World Cup in England.

“We have been able to look at a few different combinations during the first two rounds of the Rugby Championship and the squad is starting to take shape,” he said.

“In addition to the 31 players, we’ll be bringing some injured and fringe players into camp to continue their rehabilitation and manage their return to play. It’s important that they remain connected and contribute to the group.”

Meanwhile, flanker Michael Hooper’s hopes of facing the All Blacks suffered a blow on Friday when Sanzar, governing body of southern hemisphere rugby, launched an appeal against the one-week ban he was handed for striking Argentina’s Nicolas Sanchez.

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) responded to the decision by Sanzar by saying they intended to not only vigorously defend Hooper against further punishment but also appeal the original ban.

The former Wallabies captain landed the blow after being held back by flyhalf Sanchez while trying to support Dean Mumm as the lock charged to the line to score a try in Australia’s 34-9 victory over the Pumas in Mendoza last weekend.

After six hours of deliberations over Wednesday and Thursday, the judicial officer handed Hooper a two-week ban for “striking or punching”, which was reduced to one week because of his exemplary record.