18 May, 15:44
It's down to the wire now for the five contenders who have been shortlisted for the ultimate individual accolade in northern hemisphere rugby, ERC European Player of the Year 2013.




Guy Noves, the Toulouse head coach, has focused minds as his side prepares to take on Northampton in the Heineken Cup quarter-final.
"I am worried about the team ahead of the quarter-final. Not because of the injuries we have but simply because of the quality of Northampton - they are one of the best, if not the best, team in Europe at the moment.
"They already have a very impressive team and I have learned that they have brought in the New Zealand wing Bruce Reihana as one of their extra players, so I am naturally concerned about their overall quality.
"Our first half of the season was good, but, without 15 of my players during the Six Nations Championship, the conditions are not ideal to prepare matches of such great importance.
"We haven't even started proper training for this weekend's game against Bourgoin yet because the players have to recuperate after their various internationals."
But good news for the 1996 champions is that outside half Yann Delaigue is fully fit again and played in the Toulouse seconds' 53-3 recent victory over Pau.