Australia
Folau makes history with second John Eales Medal
ESPN Staff
August 27, 2015
Israel Folau has taken out the John Eales Medal for the second straight year © Getty Images
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Wallabies full-back Israel Folau has taken out the John Eales Medal as Australia's best player for the second straight year.

Folau moved from fourth to first in the last round of voting, the cross-code superstar claiming a swag of votes for his try-scoring performance in the disappointing loss to the All Blacks in Auckland.

The 27-year-old back picked up 138 votes in total to edge out resurgent flanker David Pocock (113), Wallabies vice-captains Michael Hooper (108) and Adam Ashley-Cooper (98), and Ben McCalman (95).

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Folau is the first player to win the Medal in consecutive years, and just the third player behind George Smith and Nathan Sharpe to win it on multiple occasions. The medal is voted for by the Wallabies' match-day squad on a 3-2-1 basis after each Test match. The voting period for this year's medal took in the Tests from the 2014 spring tour to the second Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand earlier this month.

Folau received the medal at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse just two days before the Wallabies leave Australia for a Test against the United States in Chicago on September 5, which will be their final hitout before the World Cup starts later that month in Britain.

He also picked up the award for Super Rugby try of the year after being deemed most responsible for Tolu Latu's match-winning round-six five-pointer against the Brumbies.

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Pocock, Hooper and fellow back-rower Sean McMahon were among other winners on the night. Hooper won Australia's choice for Wallaby of the year for a third straight year after polling the highest fan vote on the Rugby.com.au website.

Pocock capped off a successful return from back-to-back season-ending knee injuries by winning the Australian Super Rugby player of the year award while Melbourne Rebels star McMahon followed up his haul of three awards last year by being named Wallabies rookie of the year.

The Waratahs and their coach Michael Cheika were named Australian Super Rugby team and coach of the year respectively after they earned a second straight Australian conference title. Towering Brumbies lock Rory Arnold was named Australian Super Rugby rookie of the year.

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