TOYOTA, JAPAN – SEPTEMBER 28: Herschel Jantjies of South Africa reacts during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group B game between South Africa and Namibia at City of Toyota Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
South African scrum-half Herschel Jantjies is one of three nominees for the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year 2019 award.
Jantjies has been hailed as one of the game's rising stars having completed his first full season of Super Rugby with the DHL Stormers.
Jantjies, 23, enjoyed a dream Test debut for South Africa scoring two tries in a 35-17 against Australia at Ellis Park in the Rugby Championship in July.
A week later, Jantjies scored a late converted try which earned the Springboks a 16-16 draw against former world champions New Zealand at Westpac Stadium.
Jantjies' only missed Test of the season for South Africa was the 24-18 win over Argentina in Pretoria in August.
The other nominees for the award are Joe Cokanasiga of England and Romain Ntamack of France.
To be eligible for this award, players must have played less than one year of senior international rugby, according to World Rugby.
Former Springbok and 2015 World Cup winner Bryan Habana along other former internationals Jamie Heaslip, Felipe Contepomi and Fiao'o Faamausili were on the panel that selected the shortlist.
The winner will be announced on November 3 during the World Rugby Awards at The Prince Park Tower in Tokyo, Japan.
Previous winners of the award, which was founded five years ago, are: Nehe Milner-Skudder (2015), England forward Maro Itoje (2016), All Blacks winger Rieko Ioane (2017) and South Africa winger Aphiwe Dyantyi (2018).