Habana hops on the Wilko bandwagon
Following New Zealand star Dan Carter's secret love of Jonny Wilkinson, World Cup-winning wing Bryan Habana has also paid tribute to the England flyhalf and described him as one of the best players in the history of the game.
Following New Zealand star Dan Carter's secret love of Jonny Wilkinson, World Cup-winning wing Bryan Habana has also paid tribute to the England flyhalf and described him as one of the best players in the history of the game.
Habana, the International Rugby Board (IRB) and South Africa Rugby Union (SARU) Player of the Year, was the star of the South Africa side who won the last year's World Cup by beating England in the Final in Paris and equalled Jonah Lomu's try-scoring record.
The team's feat was recognised at the Laureus World Sports Awards when they were named Team of the Year in St Petersburg on Monday. That follows in the Team of the Year award they won from the IRB last year.
Habana, though, revealed the respect he has for Wilkinson, whose place in the side no longer seems guaranteed with threats from younger players like Danny Cipriani.
“Playing against Jonny is the most difficult task,” said Habana.
“The way he picks up an English team is unbelievable – I don't even think Dan Carter can do that for New Zealand.
“I have the most utmost respect, not only for him as a player. It is sad to see someone like Jason Robinson hang up his boots but then again Jonny is probably the only Englishman that can change a side.
“He is probably one of the best players that has graced the game of rugby and hopefully he will be able to gracing it for the next couple of years.
“He has proved in the last couple of years he is probably one of the best the game has ever seen and you, as an opposition player, have to respect that fact.
“He is probably one of the most perfect people off the field.”
The British Lions are due to tour South Africa in 2009 and Habana would welcome Wilkinson to the Southern Hemisphere.
“Jonny first came on to the scene when we lost the tour in 1997 so in ways we are hoping he is not there,” continued Habana. “He is a very influential player.
“There are so many guys for vying that number 10 spot in England, it will really cause some stiff competition which will not bode well for us.
“But if Jonny is kicking and if he is on top of game there few rugby players that can match him in terms of talent.
“It will be good to have the best there and if Jonny is the best come 2009 then you definitely want to be coming up against the best in the world.”
Former South Africa coach Jake White has been linked with the role of coach of the British Lions for next year's tour of South Africa.
White left his job just six weeks after winning the World Cup in acrimonious circumstances and Habana admits it would present a stiff challenge to go up against his former coach.
“Jake has done unbelievably well for himself in the last few years.
“He has brought South African rugby from the depths of doom and despair to the World champions.
“He is a meticulous planner. There has been a lot of talk of him being in line for the Lions job.
“It would be a big challenge not only for us as players but also us as the South African team as well. We know Jake very well, it would be very interesting.
“If he does get the job we can only wish him the best of luck.”
England have struggled since the World Cup in the Six Nations, squandering a healthy lead against Wales to lose at Twickenham and then just only edging past Italy.
Habana pointed to the retirements of senior players as a contributing factor in the team's struggles.
“They did unbelievably well to get to where they got to in the World Cup final,” said Habana.
“They've been struggling in the Six Nations but they have had one or two key injuries that has seen them revert back to some inexperience.
“When English rugby is strong it always bodes well for the global game so hopefully Brian Ashton will be able to conjure up some wins in next couple of weeks.
“Guys like Mike Catt and Lawrence Dallaglio – that sort of experience you can't just replace overnight.
“When you lose guys who have got 80, 90 caps it's a huge knock for the team. You've got to blood a few more youngsters and it's going to take a while.”