SPRINGBOK wing Bryan Habana has played down comparisons to Jonah Lomu after the South African drew level with the former All Black great on 15 World Cup tries.
SPRINGBOK wing Bryan Habana has played down comparisons to Jonah Lomu after the South African drew level with the former All Black great on 15 World Cup tries.
Habana, 32, playing in his 114th Test for the Boks, scored a hattrick in the space of 19 minutes after halftime against the US on Wednesday to draw level with Lomu as the Boks won 64-0. He also joined former Wallaby try-scoring ace David Campese on 64 Test tries, the most by players from tier one nations.
It was the third time Habana has scored a Test hattrick following his four against Samoa at the 2007 World Cup and three against Australia in Pretoria in 2012.
He took 15 Rugby World Cup appearances to draw level with Lomu, who scored his 15 tries in 11 appearances at the tournament.
"It's humbling to be mentioned with Jonah but I don't think I can ever be compared to him," Habana said. "I said it in 2007 as well (when Habana scored eight tries in the tournament to match the record for a single tournament), Jonah changed the face of rugby.
"He was a class act. He scored his tries in two tournaments, I'm playing in my third and he became the first rugby global superstar.
"I have an unbelievable amount of respect for him and while personal milestones are great, and I've scored a lot of tries for my country, it always comes down to doing what's best for the team and to make a contribution. That to me is more satisfying than records."
Habana was born to score tries and in 2004 Bok coach Jake White recognised that fact by plucking the relatively unknown player from the Lions to be part of the broader Springbok Tri- Nations squad in 2004. Later that year Habana made his test debut off the bench against England at Twickenham, and scored with almost his first touch of the game.
Another 113 caps and 63 tries have followed.
Habana could have claimed sole possession of the World Cup record against the US had he finished off the simplest of moves when he chased a kick that bounced kindly for him before he knocked it on.
"Fluffing an opportunity to score a try at any time is never ideal. If it was worth a lot more in terms of winning or losing a game I would have been a lot more disappointed," Habana said.
Habana plays down Lomu comparisons
SPRINGBOK wing Bryan Habana has played down comparisons to Jonah Lomu after the South African drew level with the former All Black great on 15 World Cup tries.
SPRINGBOK wing Bryan Habana has played down comparisons to Jonah Lomu after the South African drew level with the former All Black great on 15 World Cup tries.
Habana, 32, playing in his 114th Test for the Boks, scored a hattrick in the space of 19 minutes after halftime against the US on Wednesday to draw level with Lomu as the Boks won 64-0. He also joined former Wallaby try-scoring ace David Campese on 64 Test tries, the most by players from tier one nations.
It was the third time Habana has scored a Test hattrick following his four against Samoa at the 2007 World Cup and three against Australia in Pretoria in 2012.
He took 15 Rugby World Cup appearances to draw level with Lomu, who scored his 15 tries in 11 appearances at the tournament.
"It's humbling to be mentioned with Jonah but I don't think I can ever be compared to him," Habana said. "I said it in 2007 as well (when Habana scored eight tries in the tournament to match the record for a single tournament), Jonah changed the face of rugby.
"He was a class act. He scored his tries in two tournaments, I'm playing in my third and he became the first rugby global superstar.
"I have an unbelievable amount of respect for him and while personal milestones are great, and I've scored a lot of tries for my country, it always comes down to doing what's best for the team and to make a contribution. That to me is more satisfying than records."
Habana was born to score tries and in 2004 Bok coach Jake White recognised that fact by plucking the relatively unknown player from the Lions to be part of the broader Springbok Tri- Nations squad in 2004. Later that year Habana made his test debut off the bench against England at Twickenham, and scored with almost his first touch of the game.
Another 113 caps and 63 tries have followed.
Habana could have claimed sole possession of the World Cup record against the US had he finished off the simplest of moves when he chased a kick that bounced kindly for him before he knocked it on.
"Fluffing an opportunity to score a try at any time is never ideal. If it was worth a lot more in terms of winning or losing a game I would have been a lot more disappointed," Habana said.
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