Well rested.

Michael Cheika will be giving Israel Folau the rest of the year off after Australia take on the Barbarians this Saturday. The fullback will not travel on Australia’s end-of-year tour.

The Waratahs star has been in scintillating form for the Wallabies this season. But Cheika thinks he’d be better off taking the rest of the year off and come back well rested.

“With Israel, I’ve decided to play him because I’ve decided that he won’t be going on the tour at the end of the year,” Cheika told rugby.com.au.

“He had in his contract the ability to take a Japan leg – if he wanted to – at the end of this season.

“We discussed it and we thought it might be better for him to have a break and come back fresh next year.”

Cheika’s says Folau has played a lot of rugby this year and the Wallabies would benefit better in the long-term if he didn’t travel.

“He’s played a lot of footy and he’s been doing so well.

“I would prefer him to have that break than to have gone there and I think that’s a good balance for all of us.

“It’s part of building our depth as well.

“It will get other players to take responsibility without him there.

“It will be good for him and a good opportunity for players in that position to fill some of that space.”

“He’s been under the microscope every single day since he has come to rugby – every single day,”

“This will 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 then get back into it from day one of Super Rugby next year.”