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Two Argies up for world award
From correspondents in Paris
October 09, 2007
ARGENTINA'S advance to a first World Cup semi-final was recognised when Pumas pair Felipe Contempomi and Juan Martin Hernandez were announced as two of the five nominees for the 2007 International Rugby Board (IRB) Player of the Year award.
Centre Contepomi and fly half Hernandez have both played key roles in Argentina's rise to fourth in the IRB's world rankings and were involved in the 19-13 quarter-final defeat of Scotland that saw the Pumas book a last four World Cup clash against South Africa in Paris on Sunday.
Also up for the award are Springbok wing Bryan Habana and French centre Yannick Jauzion, whose try against New Zealand sealed his side's dramatic 20-18 World Cup quarter-final victory against the tournament favourite in Cardiff on Saturday.
That win secured a semi-final against old rival England this weekend at the Stade de France.
New Zealand captain and flanker Richie McCaw, last year's winner, was the only forward to make the shortlist.
The selection panel was made up entirely of former internationals, including New Zealand great Michael Jones, a World Cup winner in 1987, Will Greenwood, the former England centre who starred in his country's World Cup triumph four years ago, Francois Pienaar, who captained South Africa to the trophy in 1995, and convener John Eales, Australia's World Cup winning captain in 1999.
The winners will be announced on October 21, the day after the World Cup final, at a ceremony in Paris.
IRB Player of the Year nominees:
Felipe Contepomi (ARG)
Richie McCaw (NZL)
Bryan Habana (RSA)
Yannick Jauzion (FRA)
Juan Martin Hernandez (ARG)
Agence France-Presse