Willie and Duane are IRB nominated

The other nominees were Irish flyhalf Jonathan Sexton, New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick and wing Julian Savea.

The winner will be revealed at his team’s final match of the season.

Commenting on the shortlisted candidates IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The IRB World Rugby Player of the Year is one of the most prestigious accolades in Rugby and previous winners have all made a significant contribution to the international game over the past decade, inspiring new generations of players and fans. All of these nominees have enjoyed stellar years and the focus on who will claim this accolade will add an extra dimension to the remaining November Tests.”

The IRB World Rugby Player of the Year nominees were selected by the independent IRB Awards panel, chaired by Australia’s Rugby World Cup 1999-winning captain John Eales.

The panel, comprising Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphaël Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustín Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga and Paul Wallace, has deliberated on every major Test played in 2014, starting with the RBS Six Nations and culminating with the November internationals.

“As always the panellists’ independent deliberations have produced a worthy list of contenders among a strong field,” said Eales. “It has been a year where we have seen a levelling in competition with an unpredictability in so many games now. With a spread of a couple of outside backs, a flyhalf, a back-rower and a lock in contention it is not going to be an easy selection to determine the Player of the Year.”

In support of the initial nomination process, fans now have the chance to have their say on the shortlist via social media. The results of the public vote will be considered by the panel when finalising the winner.

Previous winners include Kieran Read, Dan Carter, Thierry Dusautoir, Shane Williams, Bryan Habana, Schalk Burger, Jonny Wilkinson and Richie McCaw, with the two All Black centurions the only players to have won the award on more than one occasion.

The IRB World Rugby Player of the Year is one of 12 categories of awards, including the IRB World Rugby Coach of the Year, IRB World Rugby Team of the Year, IRB Women’s Player of the Year, IRB Sevens Player of the Year in association with HSBC, IRB Women’s Sevens Player of the Year and IRB Junior Player of the Year.

(File Photo: Gallo Images)

Twitter - @SportswaveAndre @ECRSportswave