Habana’s main mission
6 Jun 2012
RYAN VREDE writes that while many in a youthful Springboks’ squad want to prove they have the aptitude for Test rugby, Bryan Habana wants to prove to himself that he still has it.
Habana doesn’t shy away from the issue of his poor form prior to the start of the current Super Rugby campaign – a nightmarish passage that began around 2010 and gradually descended. At the time he certainly had a sense that he was playing below the standard he sets (in Tests in particular), but couldn’t comprehend the intense criticism. Time has given him perspective.
He understands he raised the bar of expectation with his showings between 2004 and 2007, a period in which he scored 30 tries in 36 Tests and became the IRB’s Player of the Year off the back of irresistible form at the World Cup. But this expectation felt unrealistic for him at times, and on the evidence of his performances, the harder he tried (and he never lacked for effort) the greater his struggle became.
Just before the 2011 Tri-Nations, Heyneke Meyer, then in his capacity as Bulls director of rugby, told keo.co.za: ‘It’s like being stuck in quicksand. The more you fight, the deeper you sink. I’ve seen it happen to many players.
‘It’s not my place to comment on Bryan because I don’t know the full picture – what’s happening in his personal life and so on – but generally the players I’ve seen recover from those situations have done so when they’ve rediscovered a natural enjoyment of the game again. How he gets to that point is for him and his coaches to determine.’
That enjoyment seems to have returned with greater on-field success, and the more he enjoys it the better he plays. A vicious cycle has given way to a positive one.
‘Having achieved what I have, the pressure was always going to be on me to perform [at a consistently high standard]. I’ve been a player that has been able to make a differences in matches. The most disappointing thing to come out of the last 12-month period was the amount of individual errors I continually made,’ Habana says.
‘It was something that wasn’t in my game before. I had to go away and look at the reasons for this and rectify them [Habana has since worked with world-renowned visual skills coach Sherylle Calder]. I was fortunate to have a coaching team and team-mates that backed me. No matter whether I believed in myself or not, I constantly had that support structure. Coming off 2011 I had to go back and see where I was as a player and establish what I wanted to achieve.’
However, Habana, who turns 29 in a fortnight, stressed that his Super Rugby form was merely a glimpse of the standard he expects of himself.
‘I wouldn’t call what I’m producing now good form because I’m not where I want to be. There’s a lot more that I want to achieve. It’s been a good start but there’s a lot more for me,’ he offered.
A winger will always be measured primarily by the number of tries he scores and with what regularity he scores them. There are widely held concerns that with the Springboks’ pragmatic game plan Habana won’t see much of the ball. Habana doesn’t share that pessimism.
‘I see our game plan the same way I saw it nine years ago. Everyone told me going from the Lions to the Bulls was going to make me a worse players because of the perceived 10-man style. Then I became part if the most successful South African franchise in Super Rugby. As players we understand what we’re trying to achieve and believe in the structures.’
This Test season will be one of the defining ones in Habana’s career. If his torrid form endures, his mentor Meyer is unlikely to be as charitable with the No 11 shirt as his predecessor Peter de Villiers was. But I sense it won’t. I sense Habana is set for a statement season. Here’s hoping that sense isn’t misplaced. Here’s hoping that statement is: ‘I’m back’.
By Ryan Vrede, in Durban
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368 Comments
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6 Jun 2012, 06:27 am
Bok Dragon Habana
6 Jun 2012, 06:37 am
Fu_ck it but ricardo loubscher looks like a thai or malaysian immigrant
6 Jun 2012, 07:11 am
a man on a mission.
6 Jun 2012, 07:12 am
@viewer(viewer)-2: loubscher is a backline/attack guru! the bok backline is going to be irresistiBULL.
6 Jun 2012, 07:15 am
Habs @ 11 still a very safe bet.
By elimination, no other 11 has done enough to dethrone the guy.
As for Aplon against NikNaks @ 15, whole different story!
Looking forward.
‘go bliksem hulle’ …, ala Fikile Mbalula
6 Jun 2012, 07:32 am
@viewer(viewer)-2: So what?
6 Jun 2012, 07:37 am
@Michael(mikeybrass)-6:
clearly the nic befits the fella
6 Jun 2012, 07:40 am
@viewer(viewer)-2:
you in the mood for noodles?
6 Jun 2012, 07:45 am
Habs’ 60m chip and chase burning Taute and co to become the first South African to 50 Super tries… suggests yep he still has it… not to mention his great positional play off a fantastic Kolisi break to score the match-winner against his former team…
6 Jun 2012, 07:45 am
or a massage?
6 Jun 2012, 07:48 am
What is so youthful about this squad??
The same “tried, tested and failed” players are going to run out on Saturday.
6 Jun 2012, 07:54 am
The mother grundy book club is out in force this morning.
6 Jun 2012, 08:03 am
@pakslae(pakslae)-11:
i think its calculated on number of caps. which should be a lot less than the amount the 2011 wc squad had.
6 Jun 2012, 08:10 am
Springbok backline coach Ricardo Loubscher feels Pat Lambie’s future in the Springbok team lies in the flyhalf position.
Cape Town – Springbok backline coach Ricardo Loubscher feels Pat Lambie’s future in the Springbok team lies in the flyhalf position.
The 21-year-old played fullback for the Boks at last year’s World Cup in New Zealand but has been mainly used at flyhalf by the Sharks in Super Rugby this year.
“I would say flyhalf is his best position. Pat took the right decisions under pressure at the Sharks and that’s what you expect from a flyhalf,” Loubscher told Die Burger.
However, with Zane Kirchner likely to start at fullback and Morné Steyn the incumbent at flyhalf, Lambie looks set for a bench role against the English in the upcoming three-Test series.
But Loubscher also didn’t rule out the possibility of Lambie featuring at fullback in future.
“It depends on what you need on the day. They (Lambie and Kirchner) have different strong points.”
Loubscher also feels captain Jean de Villiers fits perfectly into the outside centre berth for the Springbok game plan.
“I prefer Jean at outside centre due to the way we play. If you play direct rugby, your inside centre can get you over the advantage line. Then, when the ball goes wide, you’ll have your best decision maker at outside centre.
“Frans Steyn is for me the best at inside centre because you then effectively have two flyhalves. Then we’re also in a position to have good decision makers and tactical kickers at flyhalf and inside centre,” said Loubscher.
The first Test in Durban kicks off at 17:00 on Saturday, followed by Tests in Johannesburg (16 June) and Port Elizabeth (23 June).
News24
Finally… someone who assesses Lambie correctly…!
If Lambie is patient and bides his time he will get plenty of opportunity to play flyhalf for the Boks…
6 Jun 2012, 08:12 am
Cape Town – Springbok backline coach Ricardo Loubscher feels Pat Lambie’s future in the Springbok team lies in the flyhalf position.
The 21-year-old played fullback for the Boks at last year’s World Cup in New Zealand but has been mainly used at flyhalf by the Sharks in Super Rugby this year.
“I would say flyhalf is his best position. Pat took the right decisions under pressure at the Sharks and that’s what you expect from a flyhalf,” Loubscher told Die Burger.
However, with Zane Kirchner likely to start at fullback and Morné Steyn the incumbent at flyhalf, Lambie looks set for a bench role against the English in the upcoming three-Test series.
But Loubscher also didn’t rule out the possibility of Lambie featuring at fullback in future.
“It depends on what you need on the day. They (Lambie and Kirchner) have different strong points.”
Loubscher also feels captain Jean de Villiers fits perfectly into the outside centre berth for the Springbok game plan.
“I prefer Jean at outside centre due to the way we play. If you play direct rugby, your inside centre can get you over the advantage line. Then, when the ball goes wide, you’ll have your best decision maker at outside centre.
“Frans Steyn is for me the best at inside centre because you then effectively have two flyhalves. Then we’re also in a position to have good decision makers and tactical kickers at flyhalf and inside centre,” said Loubscher.
The first Test in Durban kicks off at 17:00 on Saturday, followed by Tests in Johannesburg (16 June) and Port Elizabeth (23 June).
Finally… someone who assesses Lambie correctly…! If Lambie is patient and bides his time he will get plenty of opportunity to play flyhalf for the Boks…
6 Jun 2012, 08:20 am
@Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters. Stormers support England.(Predawn)-12: Then how the f e ck do you explain the increasing number of Shark’s fans posts questioning Meyer, Loubscher and the intended game plan? Just take a visit to the axis thread, then come back and tell me if those Sharks fans are TRUE Sharks fans because they dare question the Bok setup? Or are they undercover Stormer fans?
6 Jun 2012, 08:40 am
Bryan seems to be more selective these days, when flying up on defence sniffing an intercept or whatever he was trying to do when he looked stupid,an improvement that has made his overall game look better. Scoring opportunities may come his way, he needs to take them, so heavy involvement and back-up any suspected break.
6 Jun 2012, 08:41 am
sorry for the double post…
was yellow-carded with an “awaiting moderation” message…
but the TMO obviously found no evidence of foul play…!!
6 Jun 2012, 08:42 am
Best Springbok winger of all time by far and one of the finest in the world of all time. Has another WC in him too.
6 Jun 2012, 08:45 am
Habanna is also the best defensive wing we’ve got and have had for the last 5 years. Now that he’s getting his attacking spirit going again he’s the best 11 for sure with Mvovo next in line.
6 Jun 2012, 08:46 am
I have huge respect for Bryan…
after a lean couple of years and lots of abuse from fans and in the press… instead of running off for a bigger pay day in europe or japan, he knuckled down and put in the effort in the off season and fixed his mind on regaining his old form… which he has largely done now… as proved by getting the quickest recorded time in stormers pre-season training…
but with a few more years under the belt… is perhaps a bit smarter and discerning as te rangatira says…
so kudos to bryan… the consummate professional rugby player… many could learn from his example…
6 Jun 2012, 08:48 am
Would still walk into any first XV anywhere in the world.
6 Jun 2012, 08:48 am
Habana’s been steadily improving.
Was one of your (and JdV) biggest critics but so far he’s clearing the doubt from my mind bit by bit.
May it continue and with it bring much more joy to Bok & of course Stormers supporters this season.
6 Jun 2012, 08:50 am
@Melchizedek(Melchizedek)-22:
Now that’s pushing it.
Not ahead of Zac & Jane and that Hurricanes flyer.
And not ahead of Digby.
6 Jun 2012, 08:50 am
This past weekend was the right place to make his statement! What a statement it was…
6 Jun 2012, 08:51 am
@Gumboots(Gumboots)-25:
absolutely bill…!!
6 Jun 2012, 08:52 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-20:
@ufo(ufo)-21:
Agree.
@Melchizedek(Melchizedek)-19:
Best Bok winger of all time yes.
Not so sure if he has another WC in him especially as a winger but he’s adapted his game so we’ll see.
6 Jun 2012, 08:54 am
@ufo(ufo)-26:
Oh dit is lekker om ‘n stormer te is te is…
Oh that vision of Siyalater gliding through the gap… what more can anyone want…
6 Jun 2012, 08:55 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-24:
There may be individual wingers in better form at the moment, but no team has two of them – to force Habs to the bench. NZers have huge respect for him.
6 Jun 2012, 08:55 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-27:
Time for us Capie’s to gloat today!
Although the Bulls do think they have a claim to him…
6 Jun 2012, 08:56 am
When is the team being announced?
6 Jun 2012, 08:57 am
@viewer(viewer)-2:
What’s wrong with that.
6 Jun 2012, 08:58 am
@Gumboots(Gumboots)-28:
Stop throwing bait out man
It’s tiresome
6 Jun 2012, 08:58 am
Whenever I think of Habana as a player I think of the days when he just started his test carrier. I was a test match against France in 2006 at the old Boet Rasmus in PE.
He had a confident swagger and smiled at the crowd at every opportunity possible. Had no reputation just a fantastic talent with huge potential.
He still managed to carry RWC 2007 into 2008 but then unfortunately the wheels started coming off.
The 40m break on Saturday gave me more satisfaction than the winning try.
6 Jun 2012, 08:59 am
@viewer(viewer)-2:
Where do you live.
6 Jun 2012, 09:00 am
@22
That’s hyperbole.
The best wing in SR at the moment is zac guildford (for my money). He can burn defenders with his pace but what stands out is his endurance over 80 minutes. I think he’s got parachutes where his lungs are supposed to be
6 Jun 2012, 09:01 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-33:
For who?
6 Jun 2012, 09:03 am
@Gumboots(Gumboots)-37:
For whoever you think you gonna catch
6 Jun 2012, 09:03 am
@viewer(viewer)-36: That’s because he’s probably high as a kite all the time.
6 Jun 2012, 09:04 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-38:
Ok! Movies, 80′s songs, coaches???
6 Jun 2012, 09:05 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-39:
He just streaks through the opposition
6 Jun 2012, 09:06 am
Dawn, there’s nothing wrong with it. Its an advantage if he decides to become a drug mule on the Far East transit route
I live in Pretoria
6 Jun 2012, 09:07 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-31: lunch time
6 Jun 2012, 09:09 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-43:
Thx.
6 Jun 2012, 09:09 am
Nah Dawn, I’m kidding. I know what being subjected to bigotry feels like
6 Jun 2012, 09:10 am
Habana shares the record for tries in a world cup with the mighty jonah…
illustrious company…
nuff said…
6 Jun 2012, 09:11 am
@Gumboots(Gumboots)-41: Yes, he only stops for female joggers
….
6 Jun 2012, 09:12 am
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-34:
his try against the blues (i think) when he played for the bulls. cant remeber which season but it was great.
6 Jun 2012, 09:13 am
@39 sb
I thought his problem was alcohol (ever since his dad died)
6 Jun 2012, 09:14 am
So everyone agrees on 90% of the Bok team, right? The only debates are around fullback and the loose trio combo?
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