20 Oct 2011

All Blacks up for Player of the Year

6:40 am on 20 October 2011

Three All Blacks make up half the list of nominees for the World Rugby Player of the Year award to be announced on Monday.

They are Piri Weepu, Jerome Kaino and Ma'a Nonu.

Thierry Dusautoir, the French flanker who will lead his side in the Rugby World Cup final on Sunday, is also named.

Wallabies David Pocock and Will Genia are the other nominations.

Former Wallabies captain John Eales, the head of the selection panel, says one of the award's closest contests could be decided by the last two World Cup matches this weekend.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw won the award last year for a third time.