SOUTH AFRICA WING Bryan Habana says he’s prioritising team success over reeling in Jonah Lomu’s Rugby World Cup try-scoring record.
A late touchdown in the 34-16 win against Scotland on Saturday saw the 32-year-old go joint-third on the all-time list on 12 tries, three behind Lomu and one adrift of Doug Howlett.
Habana is also third in terms of career Test tries – trailing only Daisuke Ohata (69) and David Campese (64) on 61.
A win against the United States on tomorrow would be enough to see South Africa into the quarter-finals as Pool B winners – a far cry from the shock defeat to Japan that kicked off their campaign.
“The highs and lows of the last two weeks have probably been the most vast and intense that I have ever experienced in my professional career,” Habana said.
“When you go through what we went through with the loss against Japan and the criticism that followed, then to bounce back the following week against Samoa only to also lose to injury your captain and a mate I’ve become really close to [Jean de Villiers] – it’s something really special, something you don’t achieve in an individual sport, that feeling that you have for the brother next to you.
“To bounce back, senior players have played a major role in their calmness, in their composure and in their understanding that we can do it. That belief didn’t disappear with the Japan defeat.”
Habana says that while he’s well aware of his proximity to the record after Saturday’s score, he’ll happily fall short of it, if it means picking up a second winner’s medal at the end of the month.
“I know the [World Cup try] record is three away and it would be fantastic to score tries but for me at the moment it’s literally about what’s the next job at the next phase of play.
“For me, first and foremost, is the team. Hopefully, by contributing as an individual you can achieve some great things as well but it definitely isn’t in the back of my head at the moment.”
If, as expected, South Africa secure top spot in Pool B, they will face Australia or Wales in the quarter-finals.
