Springbok try-scoring icon Bryan Habana recalls two experiences from the 2007 World Cup he wishes had turned out differently.
Statistically the greatest winger in Bok history, Habana cemented his place among the sport’s elite with a series of outstanding displays en route to lifting the Webb Ellis trophy.
He began the tournament by replicating Chester Williams in scoring four tries against Samoa and, in the semi-final against Argentina, equalled Jonah Lomu’s record of eight tries in a single tournament.
Yet, chatting on the Boks Unpacked X The Verdict podcast, Habana shared how not crossing the whitewash in the final still sticks with him.
“I think the nerves ahead of that final were through the roof, because we had dominated so much up until that point,” he said. “It was unfortunately a very scrappy final.
“We didn’t really assert our dominance against an England side that had come from nowhere. Even though we were always in control – and even if Mark Cueto had scored that try, it never felt like we were under pressure – it just didn’t spark in terms of attack.
“We’d been going through games where we’d scored a lot of tries the whole time. I’d equalled Jonah’s record and I was thinking: ‘maybe, just maybe’ … I was in the nominations for World Player of the Year, so you think, as an individual, how better to contribute to the team achieving success?
“You’ve done that from a try-scoring perspective in the first six games, and you want to do it in the last. But it was just a final where try-scoring was elusive for all of us.”
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One of the memorable moments of the competition was USA winger Takudzwa Ngwenya beating Habana to score in the pool stages.
“Takudzwa Ngwenya … you guys still give me stick,” the 43-year-old joked with fellow ex-Boks Hanyani Shimange, Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger.
“I probably dived a bit too early, but you’ve got to give the guy credit.
“In fairness, he got a contract after that tournament. And he was able to do something with that. I did give him my jersey, which I think he sold to someone else. [laughs]
“A guy like that, on the biggest stage, in the biggest moment, against one of the best players in the world, just put on the afterburners.
“I have to say, fair play – I was eating dust. I was properly eating dust.”
Photo: Tertius Pickard / Gallo Images
The post Habana: I was properly eating dust appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Springbok try-scoring icon Bryan Habana recalls two experiences from the 2007 World Cup he wishes had turned out differently.
The post Habana: I was properly eating dust appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
