IRELAND HEAD COACH Andy Farrell has been nominated for the World Rugby Coach of the Year award for 2022.
Farrll has overcome a slow start with Ireland to make the Irish Rugby team number 1 side in the world.
Another win over New Zealand in the 2021 Autumn Nations Series was followed by a strong Six Nations campaign.
The Irish team then went to New Zealand and won their first ever series last summer.
He will battle Frances Fabien Galthié, Simon Middleton of the England Women's 15s , and Wayne Smith of the New Zealand Women's 15s for the award
The award will be announced in Monaco on November 20.
Introducing your nominees for the 2022 World Rugby Coach of the Year title.#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/O5BcAezMk3
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 14, 2022
There are also other awards up for grabs on the night. Ireland also have representatives in the Breakthrough Player of the Year category.
Ireland's Mack Hansen, Dan Sheehan, England's Henry Arundell, and Italy's Ange Capuozzo battle for that award.
Hansen was sensational in his debut year for Ireland, with a try against France in Paris one of the highlights.
Sheehan became one of the best front rowers for his country alongside Andrew Porter and Tadgh Furlong
Ireland will be in contention to be named Team Of The Year at the star-studded ceremony.
Ireland's Player of the Year Josh van der Flier will enter the conversation for World Rugby's top individual men's award, as will Johnny Sexton, who was recognised in 2018 - when Ireland won the Team award and Joe Schmidt won the coach award.
Before that Farrell is looking forward to the game against Australia this Saturday.
"You look at their side and they made plenty of changes, probably looking at us this week," he said. "It will certainly focus the mind.
"We know what's coming. Looking at the performance with a similar side that is probably going to be put out against us in Paris last week, was probably more like it.
"They were very strong, especially set-piece-wise they went after the French and nearly got the big 'W' over there.
"That's the type of game we're expecting."
Ireland's game kicks-off at 8pm.
Mack Hansen scored a try just seven seconds after the restart (Image: Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)See More: Andy Farrell, Dan Sheehan, Ireland, Mack Hansen, Rugby
