Bryan Habana

Bryan Gary Habana OIS (born 12 June 1983) is a South African former professional rugby union player. A wing by trade, he is regarded as one of the sport's all-time greats. He played for the Golden Lions, Blue Bulls, and Western Province in South African domestic rugby, the Bulls and the Stormers in Super Rugby, and Toulon in France's Top 14. He earned 124 caps for the Springboks.

Habana was a key figure in South Africa's 2007 Rugby World Cup victory, scoring eight tries in the tournament to match Jonah Lomu's single-tournament record. That year he was named IRB Player of the Year. At the 2015 World Cup, he tied Lomu's career mark of 15 tries in World Cup tournaments. He ranks second on the all-time list of Test try scorers with 67 tries.

Born in Johannesburg, Habana was named after Manchester United footballers Bryan Robson and Gary Bailey. He attended King Edward VII School and Rand Afrikaans University (now the University of Johannesburg). He played outside centre and scrum-half at provincial and age-group levels and was part of the South Africa Sevens team for the 2003–2004 World Sevens Series. He debuted in the Currie Cup for the Golden Lions in 2004 and was voted South Africa's most promising player that year.

In November 2004, Habana made his Test debut against England at Twickenham at age 21. Coming off the bench, he scored a try with his first touch against the reigning World Cup holders, though South Africa lost 32–16. The following week he started on the left wing and scored two tries in a 45–10 win over Scotland. He kept his spot for the final match of the year against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

In 2005, Habana moved to the Blue Bulls. He was selected for the Springboks' opening match against Uruguay, scoring two tries in a 134–3 victory. He then scored two tries in each of two Tests against France (a draw and a win). In the lead-up to the 2005 Tri Nations, he scored in a win over Australia at Ellis Park. His Tri Nations debut came on 30 July against the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld, a 22–16 win. He scored two tries in a 22–19 win over Australia in Perth. Although South Africa lost the series, Habana finished as joint top try-scorer with Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko. In the Currie Cup final, the Blue Bulls lost to the Free State Cheetahs. That November, he scored two tries against Wales and was named to the shortlist for the 2005 IRB World Player of the Year, also winning SA Rugby's Player of the Year award.

The Springboks struggled in 2006, losing four of six Tri Nations matches, plus Tests against France and Ireland. In the 32–15 loss to Ireland, Habana played centre for the first time for the Springboks and scored a try. They lost the first Test against England but won the second.

In April 2007, Habana raced a cheetah over 100 meters to raise awareness for the species' endangered status. He lost, as cheetahs can run 70 mph compared to his 22 mph.

During the 2007 Super 14 season, Habana scored a last-minute try in the final, allowing flyhalf Derick Hougaard to convert and give the Bulls a 20–19 win over the Sharks. The try was controversial because Habana had earlier tackled fullback Percy Montgomery in the air; Habana later admitted he should have been sent off.

At the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Habana scored four tries against Samoa in the opening match, two against the United States in the group stage, and two against Argentina in the semifinal—the latter including a chip-and-chase and an intercept try—to equal Lomu's record of eight tries in a single tournament. He played in the final victory over England and received the IRB Player of the Year Award on 21 October.

The 2008 season was less successful for Habana. He retained his place in the Springboks side but failed to replicate his previous impact, scoring only...