Bryan Habana has virtually seen and done it all over 117 Tests for the Springboks, but he has never been officially appointed as a leader.
That changed on Thursday, though, when Bok coach Allister Coetzee announced at a press conference in Nelspruit that the South African record try-scorer is now the “official” vice-captain of the national team ahead of Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener against Argentina at the Mbombela Stadium (5pm kickoff).
It is a welcome development for Habana, who despite a stellar career as a player, has had to take a back seat to his teammates when it came to the captaincy roles.
While he has been part of the senior players’ group with the Boks and Stormers, the Cape side had an ideal chance to make a fresh start and move into a bold new direction by appointing Habana as the Super Rugby captain when he arrived in Cape Town from the Bulls for the 2010 season.
Following years of under-achievement in Super Rugby, the Stormers needed a true winner to take them forward, and Habana was certainly that man – he had been an integral part of the Bulls team that won their first two Super Rugby titles, numerous Currie Cups and a World Cup with the Boks.
It would’ve been an inspired choice, and also a much-needed boost for transformation to appoint the first black captain for the Stormers.
Coetzee opted for Cape stalwart Schalk Burger instead, and while the Stormers played superb rugby to go all the way to the final, they came up short against Habana’s old team in Soweto.
But now, at the age of 33 and 64 Test tries later, Habana has finally been given the recognition he deserves as a real champion of South African rugby. And while there have been questions – and rightly so – about whether he should continue playing for the Boks, the fact that Seabelo Senatla is out with a wrist injury is a huge factor in determining whether Habana should wear the No 11 jersey.
Blitzboks star Senatla is the man in waiting for the left-wing berth, but without him, the other options are a slightly off-colour Lwazi Mvovo or Lions express Courtnall Skosan, who has been outstanding in Super Rugby, but would be making his Test debut if he were to play.
And part of Habana’s duty at the Boks will be to groom his successor, and both Senatla and Skosan would benefit from that.
But neither of them are in the current squad, and Habana knows that he must produce on the field if he is going to justify his role as the vice-captain. “Having had a chat to the coach at the start of the pre-season in Toulon, and hearing what his vision was for wanting to include me in this journey, I think the opportunity to grab that with both hands was definitely something I couldn’t not accept,” he said.
“But like the coach rightly said, to be back, I know that my on-field performances are the bigger part of my reason for coming back, and know that I have to make a difference on the field first.
“Then again, to be a part of a new journey – I know there has been a lot of experience that has left the Springbok group over the last eight months, and a new journey with a new group of players that are starting a new culture, I think it’s been really great and fantastic for me to be back.”
With the retirements of Jean de Villiers, Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez and unavailability of Schalk Burger, Habana is now the oldest player in the Bok squad, something that hasn’t escaped the attention of his teammates.
“It is definitely a new experience for me. It’s the first time that I come back into a Springbok group as the oldest player – the guys have been pulling out the wheelchair jokes and stuff, and crutches off the bus!” he quipped.
“But it’s been really fantastic. The intensity and willingness of this group of players to succeed has been really special to see, so coming back and being a part of it, I know that I have to put my hand up on the field, and impart my knowledge on what is an exciting, but youthful backline (the rest of the backs have 36 caps between them).
“I’ve had almost the fortune that coaches have backed me at times when it hasn’t gone well, but that in a way, I’ve repaid that faith. To go on and 117 Tests for your country, and judging on the World Cup last year, I said I would only come back if I feel I can make a difference.
“And I think that desire within me has never died. One of the reasons I went over to France was to become part of a team that is successful, and I have been able to do that over the last four years.
“So hopefully in my time left with the Springboks now, I can continue doing that. When I finally hang up my boots, I don’t quite know what the plan is for the next two or three years! But I am taking it a year at a time at the moment.”
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