Two members of the Tri-Nations winning Springboks, scrumhalf Fourie du Preez and fullback Frans Steyn, have been nominated for the highest individual honour by the International Rugby Board.

Du Preez and Steyn join five other international stars on an extended list of seven nominees following the closest vote in the award's history. The other five players are Ireland captain Brain O'Driscoll and countryman Jamie Heaslip, All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, Australia's Matt Giteau and Tom Croft of England.

MCaw, who won the title three years ago, is among the nominees. If he wins this year, he will become the first player to receive vthe accolade twice. But Du Preez, who starred as they won the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions series and the Vodacom Tri- Nations, is the favourite.

Meanwhile, Springbok wing Bryan Habana could miss Saturday's test match against Italy in Udinese. Habana has been cited for kicking France's Vincent Clerc in the face during Friday's international in Toulouse. The case will be heard by the International Rugby Board's disciplinary committee on Wednesday. Television images appear to show Habana kicking out at Clerc when the French winger was lying on the ground in the 38th minute. The French beat the Springboks 20-13.