Malcolm, Faf in line for top gong

Two Springboks, hooker Malcolm Marx and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, are among a group of five players nominated for the prestigious 2018 World Rugby Player-ofthe-Year Award.

The Bok duo will be up against All Blacks, flyhalf Beauden Barrett – who won the award the last two years – and wing Rieko Ioane, as well as Ireland’s flyhalf Johnny Sexton which will be presented at the World Rugby Awards at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo on November 25.

Marx, the Boks’ dynamic ball-carrying hooker, has played the fewest Tests of the nominees with only six, having missed the June internationals through injury.

With five starts and a try in the shock win over New Zealand in Wellington, the 24-year-old Marx has picked up where he left off in 2017, combining athleticism, power, pace and a wide skillset in attack.

De Klerk returned to the Bok team after missing the 2017 season and quickly made himself indispensable. – Own Correspondent