Australia centre Pat McCabe is recovering well after leaving the field early during the Wallabies' Rugby World Cup quarter-final victory over South Africa.

McCabe hurt his recently-recovered shoulder during the match and it was feared that his tournament may be over, but Australia coach Robbie Deans has said that the player is making a speedy recovery.

"He's recovered very well. His strength has come back quickly," Deans said.

"He got a couple of stingers and obviously he wasn't comfortable at the time so we withdrew him from the game at that point, but he's recovered very well."

Australia face New Zealand in the semi-finals on Sunday, October 16.