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, 10:44 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-197: And that is where we differ. If the Stormers don’t, I want another SA side to.
6 Jun 2012, 10:44 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-197:
Yes Sir…
6 Jun 2012, 10:44 am
if heyneke does what we all believe or hope he can…
he can have the job for life…
Coach Emeritus Heyneke Meyer has a nice ring to it…!!
6 Jun 2012, 10:44 am
@roobarb2(roobarb2)-185:
Look man we’ve been through Heyneke’s statements, we’ve analysed and scrutinized it a million times.
We said we’re gonna support the Boks, never did we say we’re gonna believe everything that HM says.
We’ve been there the whole week already.
Now its about the Boks vs England and not debating Meyer’s thoughts as many on here has challenged it and backed it up with facts as well.
Let it go, for the sake of peace and harmony..
6 Jun 2012, 10:45 am
@Michael(mikeybrass)-198: Don’t heasd desk me. Answer the question. Why should we have this desire to have a black coach? ANd why should it be considered racist, obstructive and backwards if you don’t want this? We’ve just had a black coach, and already we’re “wishing” for a black coach.
6 Jun 2012, 10:46 am
@187 yeah Tac is as honest as they come
6 Jun 2012, 10:46 am
That Mara Louw from Idols is looking for a job.
I suspect she drinks from the furry cup.
That would tick several boxes.
6 Jun 2012, 10:47 am
pity tac…
6 Jun 2012, 10:47 am
I need tyres.
Any recommendations.
6 Jun 2012, 10:47 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-205:
Does Robbie Deans count as an all black coach?
6 Jun 2012, 10:48 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-209:
Michelin
6 Jun 2012, 10:48 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-209:
Why? You also burning them in the street now?
6 Jun 2012, 10:49 am
@viewer(viewer)-206:
Listen! You won’t get a more unbiased opinion on this blog… Give the man his due!
6 Jun 2012, 10:49 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-212:
6 Jun 2012, 10:49 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-207:
Does John Dobson have aspirations to become bok coach or is he more interested to pursuit a career in academics?
6 Jun 2012, 10:50 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-193:
Now that’s the kind of attitude and arrogance that’s bound to divide people.
Not all of us are blind followers.
We ask questions, we wanna know who what where & when as the Springboks belong to all of the Nation.
Heyneke is the man in charge and given a mandate to do his country proud but he must always keep in mind this team belongs to everybody in RSA.
So if people get upset it’s because they’re passionate and not naysayers and naggers.
People on here are trying to meet you believers halfway and yet you keep throwing it in our face with things like ‘we don’t need your support anyway’.
Springbokke is property of the whole Suid Afrika.
6 Jun 2012, 10:51 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-215:
Is that the guy from Focus on the Family?
6 Jun 2012, 10:51 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-212:
For my car.
Will burn the old ones.
6 Jun 2012, 10:51 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-215:
he seems to be loving coaching.
I’m sure he would answer the call if the stormers choke again this year.
@Dawn(Dawn)-209:
for the dolphin?
surely you have a connection?
go to hiQ round the corner from your flat.
they will give you free dj fresh cd which makes an excellent coaster.
6 Jun 2012, 10:52 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-217:
hehe– no, he is the clever baldie who had the huge success with UCT in the varsity cup and recently won the Vodacom cup with WP.
6 Jun 2012, 10:53 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-216:
Everyone is happy if the team is performing.
If there’s one thing you can take out of Heyneke’s comments it’s that this is all he’s interested in.
Despite the conspiracy theories, he is not interested in giving Kirchner free Bok caps if it’s gonna compromise his win/loss ratio.
In the end, judge him on his results. That’s all he’s cares about.
6 Jun 2012, 10:53 am
I want Continental Premium Contact
6 Jun 2012, 10:53 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-209:
Good Hope Tyres in Ottery Road should be close to you.
6 Jun 2012, 10:54 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-205: I’ll do whatever I feel is appropriate in answer to a question, thank you very much sir. What you said then and now is plain damn stupid, and shows you didn’t read what I wrote.
6 Jun 2012, 10:54 am
Who’s dj fresh
6 Jun 2012, 10:54 am
we’ll see Allister move on ‘up the ladder’ to become DOR and Dobbo taking over…
6 Jun 2012, 10:55 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-219:
Not sure if the “suits” will give him the call- Theo’s smile during the prize giving ceremony after the Vodacom cup victory in kimberley was a bit faked . Or maybe he was just hungry.
6 Jun 2012, 10:56 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-216: Well said.
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-221: No, everyone would be happy at the end result if that turns out to be the case but there is always room for improvement. The disagreement would then shift on how to improve said performance through strategy and players. An important difference.
6 Jun 2012, 10:57 am
don’t head deask me
6 Jun 2012, 10:57 am
@Michael(mikeybrass)-224:
You wrote that you want a black coach after Heyneke.
And Katman want’s to know why the colour of his skin should matter?
Come on man. Those skeletons you dig up in the Egyptian desert are all the same colour. Why differentiate based on skin colour in the here and now?
6 Jun 2012, 10:59 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-230: I answered your question on it. Your question at least was specific and not full of stupidity (Katman is better than that).
6 Jun 2012, 10:59 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-225:
is you radio stuck on Goodhope?
@Robzim(Robzim)-227:
probably just hunger pains.
6 Jun 2012, 10:59 am
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-223:
They are but I’m a Tiger Wheel person myself.
I go where the white people go.
6 Jun 2012, 11:00 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-232:
dobbo looked tasty did he…?
6 Jun 2012, 11:01 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-232:
No
6 Jun 2012, 11:03 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-232:
When I lived in the Cape I only listened to KFM. None of that Goodhope FM nonsense for me.
6 Jun 2012, 11:03 am
Keo’s twatter:
“@MaxduPreez could explain why city press thinks an allegation against me of substance use (3yrs ago) by a retrenched employee is pg1 news”
Keohane. Max is a busy man.
6 Jun 2012, 11:03 am
Habbanna reminds me of Tiger Woods at the moment,same intense uncertainty in their game,both look like they are hating it,and are so concious of fuckking up.
It is irritating in that it becomes all about their bad game.
Where as Woods is an individual,Habbanna is part of a team,and this is something he has forgotten.He is incredibly selfish and self obsessed.
When he is not shining his attitude sucks big time,and I would rather see J.P and Luwazi in the team,they offer more consitency.
6 Jun 2012, 11:04 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-237:
Don’t get me started on Max.
Back to a happy topic – the Boks, please.
6 Jun 2012, 11:04 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-236:
Vok weet why he would think I would listen to it.
6 Jun 2012, 11:04 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-230: Btw. The situation in North East Africa is much more complex than that. Can always provide readings but you might find them boring
6 Jun 2012, 11:04 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-240:
Hehe. Jy in n slegte bui vandag?
6 Jun 2012, 11:04 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-227: The buffet those Griqua folk laid out in the Presidents suite was terribly disappointing. Sausage rolls and chipolatas – wouldn’t you be feeling a little let down? I think Thelo did a fine job of hiding his hurt.
6 Jun 2012, 11:05 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-221:
Results is the most important part of his job description yes.
But as Bok coach his relationship with the public is also vital.
It will buy him time when things aren’t going smoothly, say in the case of injuries to key players resulting in losses.
But if his attitude is gonna be winning is all that matters and screw the rest then he’s gonna struggle to find friends when things get tough.
Ask John Mitchell, X All Black Coach about what the NZ public think of him despite his brilliant record.
6 Jun 2012, 11:05 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-236: Finally something we share!
6 Jun 2012, 11:05 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-236:
not matie fm?
@ufo(ufo)-234:
look if Thelo were hungry enough that s.hit could get real.
@Dawn(Dawn)-233:
go to HIQ it’s right next door to you.
6 Jun 2012, 11:05 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-233:
Good Hope Tyres would have been an option if you were looking for retreads, but those days are long gone.
Tiger Wheel Tyre, opposite Livingstone, in Lansdowne Road offers great deals.
6 Jun 2012, 11:05 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-236: I guess you were here before Bok radio hit the pirate airwaves then?
6 Jun 2012, 11:06 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-243: What, no boerewors?
6 Jun 2012, 11:07 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-242:
Natuurlik.
All the stereotyping gets on my gat.
Coloured = Good Hope FM
Coloured = burning tyres
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