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Michael Hooper wins John Eales Medal as best Wallabies player in 2020
By AAP
Michael Hooper won a third John Eales Medal to finish the international season, in which he had his captaincy questioned, on a high.
The Wallabies skipper added to his 2013 and 2016 honours by claiming the player-voted MVP honour narrowly ahead of last year's medallist Marika Koroibete.
The COVID-19 shortened test calendar produced just one win and three draws from six tests under new coach Dave Rennie, who had backed incumbent Hooper to continue in the role he held under Michael Cheika.
Hooper, who turned 29 in October, became the youngest player to notch 100 test caps in the process.
But the flanker was forced to defend his tactics and leadership as consistency of performances again alluded the Wallabies.
His teammates showed their faith though, Hooper polling 91 votes to pip winger Koroibete (88) with veteran prop James Slipper (79), halfback Nic White (61) and utility back Reece Hodge (56) rounding out the top five.
Taniela Tupou won the Super Rugby AU player of the year while his Queensland and Wallabies teammate Harry Wilson claimed Rugby Australia's rookie of the year as part of a week-long roll-out of awards.
"Michael is an incredible rugby player, an outstanding captain and an excellent leader on-and-off the field," RA boss Rob Clarke said.
"The way he conducts himself is a credit to him and the values he lives his life by, and we congratulate him on his achievement.
"All our winners thoroughly deserve the accolades in what has been a challenging 2020."
RUGBY AUSTRALIA AWARDS
* Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Sharni Williams
* Men's Sevens Player of the Year: Nick Malouf
* Super W Player of the year: Ema Masi
* Super Rugby AU Player of the Year: Taniela Tupou
* Referee of the Year: Amy Perrett
* Rookie of the year: Harry Wilson
* Spirit of Rugby Award: Garry Quinlivan
* John Eales Medal: Michael Hooper
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Latest Comments
It is if he thinks he’s got hold of the ball and there is at least one other player between him and the ball carrier, which is why he has to reach around and over their heads. Not a deliberate action for me.
Go to commentsI understand, but England 30 years ago were a set piece focused kick heavy team not big on using backs.
Same as now.
South African sides from any period will have a big bunch of forwards smashing it up and a first five booting everything in their own half.
NZ until recently rarely if ever scrummed for penalties; the scrum is to attack from, broken play, not structured is what we’re after.
Same as now.
These are ways of playing very ingrained into the culture.
If you were in an English club team and were off to Fiji for a game against a club team you’d never heard of and had no footage of, how would you prepare?
For a forward dominated grind or would you assume they will throw the ball about because they are Fijian?
A Fiji way. An English way.
An Australian way depends on who you’ve scraped together that hasn’t been picked off by AFL or NRL, and that changes from generation to generation a lot of the time.
Actually, maybe that is their style. In fact, yes they have a style.
Nevermind. Fuggit I’ve typed it all out now.
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