Sexton shortlisted for IRB Player of the Year

Jonny Sexton has been shortlisted for the IRB Player of the Year award it was announced today.
The Ireland fly-half could become only the second Irishman to win the game's most prestigious individual accolade with former hooker Keith Wood winning in 2001.
Despite a difficult move to French outfit Racing Metro to play his club rugby, Sexton has been in superb form at Test level in 2014 with his latest display helping his side beat South Africa in Dublin last weekend.
He is joined by two Springboks on the shortlist, full-back Willie le Roux and No.8 Duane Vermeulen, and two All Blacks in winger Julian Savea and lock Brodie Retallick.
The winner set to be revealed at their nation's final match of 2014.
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 2014 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. 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 fly-half, a back-rower and a lock in contention it is not going to be an easy selection to determine the Player of the Year,” said Eales.