Halfpenny nominated for IRB Player of the Year

Leigh Halfpenny could end a sensational year in style after being nominated in a five-man shortlist for the IRB Player of the Year award.
The full-back won a second Six Nations on the bounce with Wales last March but it is his performances with the British & Irish Lions in Australia that earned him the opportunity to succeed Dan Carter has the best player on the planet.
The Blues star kicked 49 points in the 2-1 Series win over the Wallablies last summer to see the Lions end a 16-year drought.
He is joined on the list by All Blacks Kieran Read and Ben Smith, Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Italy captain Sergio Parisse.
Read has been in superb form all season leading the New Zealand to a 3-0 whitewash of France in June in the absence of Richie McCaw confirming he is the next All Blacks captain.
Out wide, Ben Smith scored an astonishing 11 tries in 13 so far this year including a record eight in the Rugby Championship. At ease on the wing or at outside centre, the Highlanders flyer has been the stand-out back in the All Blacks attack in 2013.
Meanwhile, Springboks lock Etzebeth has established himself as the best lock in the world after only two years of Test rugby. 22 caps since his debut against England in June 2012 is a record that speaks for itself. His presence at the breakdown and physicality make him the true heir of Bakkies Botha.
No stranger to such nomination, Parisse lead the Azzurri to memorable wins over France and Ireland in last year's Six Nations and earned his 100^th Test cap last week in the victory over Fiji.
The winner as well as the Coach and Team of the Year will be announced shortly after the Barbarians take on Fiji on November 30.