Springbok wing Bryan Habana played down comparisons to Jonah Lomu after the South African drew level with the former All Black great on 15 World Cup tries.
Habana, 32, playing in his 114th Test for the Springboks, scored a hat-trick in the space of 19 minutes after halftime against the USA on Wednesday to draw level with Lomu as the Boks won 64-0.
Habana also joined former Wallaby try-scoring ace David Campese on 64 Test tries, the most by players from tier one nations.
It was the third time Habana has scored a Test hat-trick following his four against Samoa at the 2007 World Cup and three against Australia in Pretoria in 2012.
He took 15 Rugby World Cup appearances to draw level with Lomu, who scored his 15 tries in 11 appearances. Australia’s Drew Mitchell, who is also at the current World Cup, has 12 tries in nine matches.
“It’s humbling to be mentioned with Jonah but I don’t think I can ever be compared to him,” said Habana.
“I said it in 2007 as well (when Habana scored eight tries in the tournament to match the record for a single tournament), Jonah changed the face of rugby.
“He was a class act. He scored his tries in two tournaments. I’m playing in my third and he became the first rugby global superstar.
“I have an unbelievable amount of respect for him and while personal milestones are great, and I’ve scored a lot of tries for my country, it always comes down to doing what’s best for the team and to make a contribution.”
Habana was born to score tries and 2004 Bok coach Jake White recognised that fact by plucking the relatively unknown player from the Lions to be part of the broader Springbok Tri-Nations squad in 2004.
Later that year Habana made his Test debut off the bench against England at Twickenham, and scored with almost his first touch of the game.
Habana could have claimed sole possession of the World Cup record against the USA had he finished off the simplest of moves when he chased a kick that bounced kindly for him before he knocked it on.
The Boks only led 14-0 at the break but scored eight tries and 50 unanswered second half points.
Habana was inspired to play rugby by the heroics of the Springbok team that won the 1995 World Cup on home soil, which was also the first time he became aware of Lomu.
“I’d never played rugby before 1995, but I was one of the fortunate 60000 at Ellis Park the day Joel Stransky kicked the Boks to the title,” said Habana.
Habana on cusp of his greatest feat
Habana, 32, playing in his 114th Test for the Springboks, scored a hat-trick in the space of 19 minutes after halftime against the USA on Wednesday to draw level with Lomu as the Boks won 64-0.
Habana also joined former Wallaby try-scoring ace David Campese on 64 Test tries, the most by players from tier one nations.
It was the third time Habana has scored a Test hat-trick following his four against Samoa at the 2007 World Cup and three against Australia in Pretoria in 2012.
He took 15 Rugby World Cup appearances to draw level with Lomu, who scored his 15 tries in 11 appearances. Australia’s Drew Mitchell, who is also at the current World Cup, has 12 tries in nine matches.
“It’s humbling to be mentioned with Jonah but I don’t think I can ever be compared to him,” said Habana.
“I said it in 2007 as well (when Habana scored eight tries in the tournament to match the record for a single tournament), Jonah changed the face of rugby.
“He was a class act. He scored his tries in two tournaments. I’m playing in my third and he became the first rugby global superstar.
“I have an unbelievable amount of respect for him and while personal milestones are great, and I’ve scored a lot of tries for my country, it always comes down to doing what’s best for the team and to make a contribution.”
Habana was born to score tries and 2004 Bok coach Jake White recognised that fact by plucking the relatively unknown player from the Lions to be part of the broader Springbok Tri-Nations squad in 2004.
Later that year Habana made his Test debut off the bench against England at Twickenham, and scored with almost his first touch of the game.
Habana could have claimed sole possession of the World Cup record against the USA had he finished off the simplest of moves when he chased a kick that bounced kindly for him before he knocked it on.
The Boks only led 14-0 at the break but scored eight tries and 50 unanswered second half points.
Habana was inspired to play rugby by the heroics of the Springbok team that won the 1995 World Cup on home soil, which was also the first time he became aware of Lomu.
“I’d never played rugby before 1995, but I was one of the fortunate 60000 at Ellis Park the day Joel Stransky kicked the Boks to the title,” said Habana.
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