Hiatus: Folau was again at his best during the drought-breaking win over the All Blacks. Credit:AAP Folau had an option in his contract to take up a short-term deal with a Japanese club in the Top League but he did not exercise that. He could have joined the Wallabies for Tests against Japan, Wales, England and Scotland but he and Cheika decided some months ago the final Bledisloe Cup Test in Brisbane would be his last of the year. "I do think that will make him a better player and I think it'll make us a better team," Cheika said. "I've known him since he's come into rugby at the very start in 2013 and he has not had a minute out of the spotlight for one reason or another. He's still a young man and it's time to have some time on his own and get away from it. "We discussed it and we thought it might be better for him to have a break and come back fresh next year.

"It'll be a chance for him to get out of that for a moment and rest his body, rest his mind, take a well-earned breather and get back into it from day one of Super Rugby next year. Get a good pre-season under his belt and away you go." Cheika and Folau's management agreed to terms a number of months ago and it would be the first extended break the 28-year-old has had from the game since he started professional rugby league as a 17-year-old. It comes at an interesting time, with Folau in the middle of a purple patch for the Wallabies, having scored 12 tries in 10 games - an Australian record. He was on track to have a shot at breaking the world record mark of 17 tries in a calendar year but this decision has curtailed any chance of that. It is a blow for Australian rugby fans, who have loved seeing Folau in such a rich vein of form, but Cheika insists the try-scoring record was the last thing on his mind.

"He's definitely not that type of guy," Cheika said. "I know you'll make out like it's something special in particular, but the reality is it's part of building our depth too, to get other players to take responsibility there. "I know you guys look at the big-name players but one thing about rugby and it'll never change: it's a team sport. No one player can do anything without his teammates." With Folau set to miss four remaining Tests and a blockbuster fixture against England at Twickenham in four weeks' time, the Wallabies are now without their best player and a fullback. Karmichael Hunt, who could not get a start in Australia's match-day 23 for the New Zealand game, could be an option. Cheika has also floated the likes of Kurtley Beale and Reece Hodge as options to take over the No.15 jersey that Folau has donned since September 2013. It is expected Folau will spend a good portion of his time off across the ditch with his fiancée Maria Tutaia, who is a New Zealand netball player.