With a record fourth John Eales Medal in his pocket, Michael Hooper can argue he has earned the strategic rest that will rule him out of the early rounds of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
Hooper on Sunday was named the best Australian rugby union player for the second successive year, the Wallabies captain an obvious choice for the peer-voted award after a tireless campaign in which he was nominated for world player of the year.
The victory pushes him clear of three-time winner Israel Folau and confirms his status in the game -- having gone past George Gregan as Australia's most-capped skipper.
