Believing in Bryan
14 Oct 2008
Bryan Habana will rediscover his form for the Springboks.
Habana is a genius. A flawed one, as 2008 has revealed, but a genius nonetheless. That assertion is not hyperbole nor baseless rhetoric. Thirty-one tries in 43 Tests bears testimony to this. But even geniuses have periods where their mortality is exposed and it is at this point where even the most prudent observers start to question their haste in ascribing greatness to the player in question. For Habana, that time is now.
In the latest issue of SA Rugby magazine, on sale Wednesday, former Bok wing Pieter Rossouw, WP coach Allister Coetzee and ex-Bok mental coach Henning Gericke analyse Habana’s slump in form and explain why he will bounce back.
Also in the new mag:
– In theory, the Boks should be too strong for Wales, Scotland and England on the end-of-year tour but there are some variables that could cause a shock trip-up along the way. We examine what needs to be done to win three out of three
– A South African XV chosen from Europe’s top clubs would give most Test nations a run for their money. We select a side already familiar with northern-hemisphere conditions that perhaps should tour the United Kingdom in place of the Bok incumbents this November
– Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis talks about competing with John Smit for the No 2 jersey, the pack’s performance in the Tri-Nations, the impact of the ELVs on his game and his relationship with his brother Jannie
– Preparing to poach: When the Australian Rugby Union announced in early September that the ruling related to foreign players in its Super 14 teams was to change, it was taken as an ominous warning to South African rugby
– Former SA U21 captain and Wallabies winger Clyde Rathbone is edging dangerously close to the ‘whatever happened to?’ category. Repeated injury troubles have restricted him to just a handful of games over the past three seasons. But he’s gearing up for a big 2009 and doesn’t regret his move Down Under one bit
– The Absa Currie Cup has again witnessed the blooding of new talent across the competition. We look at the players who have stood out in their debut season
– Ross Skeate hopes his time at Toulon will lead to a Test cap but if the Boks continue to snub him, he may well opt to play for England at the 2011 World Cup
– Heyneke Meyer has picked himself up off the canvas after being snubbed for the Springbok job and decided to challenge himself afresh. Sadly, no South African team will benefit from his vast knowledge and the experience gained over a 20-year career. Instead, it’s Premiership big hitters, the Leicester Tigers, who are profiting. In this exclusive interview with SA Rugby magazine, Meyer speaks about the decision to ditch a career in the business world to get back to his first love, his meetings with ‘quality guy’ Martin Johnson and the poor coaching structures in South Africa. He also launches an almighty attack on the ‘rubbish’ ELVs and gives Bok coach Peter de Villiers some free advice
– Plus: Jake White on coaching the Barbarians
79 Comments
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14 Oct 2008, 12:18 pm
#49 Tbozknows: Why do you guppies keep on going on about revenge? The Bulls didn’t cost you the S14 final, you had the game won. Frans Steyn didn’t kick the ball out like he should have, thats the reason you lost the game. So if you want to take revenge kick steyn out of the team.
14 Oct 2008, 12:23 pm
#51 BlueBlood: I think the Bulls won because they are a better team though.
14 Oct 2008, 12:24 pm
#49 Tbozknows: revenge is gonna suck if you don’t win
14 Oct 2008, 13:23 pm
54!
14 Oct 2008, 13:40 pm
#39 Wezwp:
Why?
There are many, I can give you names, but why do you want to know?
14 Oct 2008, 13:51 pm
#50 World Cup: …but all the province rejects just walk into the bulls team! Need examples: Hougaard x 2
14 Oct 2008, 14:06 pm
Bryan will get back to his best – just give him room to move
14 Oct 2008, 14:18 pm
Besides stransky other bok jews were rosenberg, zimerman. Please name more people.
14 Oct 2008, 14:41 pm
Wezwp
Okey Geffin, Syd Nomis. Not sure if Roy Dryburgh was Jewish
14 Oct 2008, 14:43 pm
#59 KobusB:
Kankowski snr and jnr???
14 Oct 2008, 14:45 pm
Robbie Fleck too…
14 Oct 2008, 15:03 pm
He’s not the messiah he’s a very naughty boy
14 Oct 2008, 15:18 pm
#62 brendon: Bicus Dickus – that you?
14 Oct 2008, 15:30 pm
#60 Slappes:
Polish decent, I think old Tino was.
#58 Wezwp:
Yes Wilf Rosenberg.
Also, just to mention a few:
Louis Babrow
Cecil Moss
Alan Skeene
Joe Barry
Harry Boyes
Adam Burdett
Davey Cope
Max Davidson
Okey Geffin
Jack Hirsch
Colin Greenwood.
14 Oct 2008, 15:40 pm
#53 shooter: We’ll win. This is our year..
14 Oct 2008, 15:42 pm
#51 BlueBlood: Steyn is an accident waiting to happen but he is maturing and learning from Michalak. Revenge is rife..
14 Oct 2008, 15:46 pm
Die hele jaar sukkel die BB se twee grootste ‘gamebreakers’ om op vorm te kom: Spies en Habana. En hul sukkel ongelukkig nogsteeds.
Gelukkig speel Matfield en FDP weer goed, so dit help die BB.
Maar die Haaie moet maar net hoop dat mnre Spies en Habana nie opdaag vir die finaal nie, want die dag as hul wel opdaag, dan gaan hul groot skade aanrig !
As die vier bogenoemde menere van die BB egter nie hul deel doen die 25ste Okt nie, is dit game, set and match vir die Haaie.
14 Oct 2008, 15:50 pm
Up until the age of 8 I believed I had super powers and I could fly and turn invisible yet every time I did something naughty while “invisible” or trying to jump off high places it didn’t end well for me.
14 Oct 2008, 15:58 pm
#66 Tbozknows: I don’t think there is much you can learn from michalak except how to apply make up. But you are right though, the Sharks have this CC in the bag, there is no way kaplan clueless will allow a BB victory.
14 Oct 2008, 15:59 pm
Pietman i must say you a walking springbok encyclopedia. Admit it, you really keo?
14 Oct 2008, 16:05 pm
#65 Tbozknows: The truth is what you believe. haha. that was a Lukism btw. Like I believe that Brian is spelt with an ‘i’ and not a ‘y’.
#70 Wezwp: I’m also a walking library. ex. ask me who came 5th in the CC this year.
14 Oct 2008, 16:06 pm
#70 Wezwp:
There are some others, I am sure.
No, I only read about those okes, my father is the boffin, he has many books on this kinda stuff.
14 Oct 2008, 16:12 pm
#72 Pietman:
Brian Pfaf too, I think.
14 Oct 2008, 17:12 pm
Would like to read the Meyer interview, anyone know where it can be found?
15 Oct 2008, 01:25 am
If the Boks played like they did against Oz in the last game, I am sure habana will get a few…
Perhaos he should move to right wing and Nokwe on the left.
15 Oct 2008, 14:15 pm
Are we going to get the opportunity to buy this mag online now?
What is happening with that, we have heard nothing about it since you put up the story about it…
15 Oct 2008, 18:57 pm
Habana is the best , Meyer is the best , f@ck Clyde Rathbone
17 Oct 2008, 12:40 pm
Habana probably needs a good rest, he’s been playing non-stop since last year’s super 14…playing one of the best Bok players in recent years week in and week out is a sure fire way to run him into the ground! I think the reason why Habana isn’t scoring as many tries is because everyone has seen him play enough to learn how to shut him down, Exactly the same thing happened with Lomu.
Still Habs is only 24 and is still coming into his prime, if managed right he will be even better for the next World Cup and could well end up one of the stars like last time. But the other problem is that his team mates seem to be allergic to passing to him, so many opportunities went begging in the Tri-Nations as a result! His try against NZ was a typical example of putting Habana into space, once that happens no-one can catch him. So its up to the other players to be seizing opportunities to put Habs into space rather than trying to be heroes and end up spilling the ball!
23 Oct 2008, 12:19 pm
I think playing the Blacks or Wallabies on Twicks or Millenium stadium is a splendid idea. They can then shorten the Tri-Nation, making space for Currie Cup to breath a bit…I can’t remember when last the build up to a Currie Cup final has been as it is in 2008. It’s going to be a cracker!!
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