Welsh quartet in race for Six Nations accolade

our members of the Six Nations-winning Wales team, Adam Jones, Mike Phillips, Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny, are in the running for the award for the player of the championship. Organisers said the shortlist of 15 had been "compiled through technical statistics, and crucially, fan opinion". Jones for instance "only missed one tackle in the Championship", while Phillips "made more passes than any other player (279)". England captain Chris Robshaw was named for having "played every minute of the Championship and made 64 tackles" while teammate Owen Farrell "was the most talked about player across social media". Italy had three nominees in captain Sergio Parisse, full-back Andrea Masi and flanker Alessandro Zanni, while wooden spoonists France saw prop Nicolas Mas, No 8 Louis Picamoles and centre Mathieu Bastareaud named. Irish hopes lay with scrum-half Connor Murray and centre Brian O'Driscoll, but Scotland had a sole entry in full-back Stuart Hogg. Voting closes on March 20. The 15 players nominated for 2013 Player of the Championship Mike Phillips (WAL), Leigh Halfpenny (WAL), Dan Biggar (WAL), Adam Jones (WAL), Owen Farrell (ENG), Chris Robshaw (ENG), Stuart Hogg (SCO), Sergio Parisse (ITA), Andrea Masi (ITA), Alessandro Zanni (ITA), Conor Murray (IRL), Brian O'Driscoll (IRL), Nicolas Mas (FRA), Louis Picamoles (FRA), Mathieu Bastareaud (FRA) From: AFP