Bryan Habana didn’t just run fast. He made defenders question their life choices. When he hit top gear it looked like someone pressed the fast-forward button while everyone else was stuck on pause.
He scored 67 tries for the Springboks which is basically rugby’s version of a cheat code. Every time he got the ball you could almost hear the crowd thinking “Here we go again.”
World Cups were his playground. From that hat-trick against Samoa in 2007 to matching Jonah Lomu’s record for most tries in a single tournament Habana didn’t just show up. He stole the show.
And yes speed was his calling card but he was more than a sprinter in boots. Habana tackled hard worked tirelessly and led by example. He wasn’t just quick. He was clever committed and absolutely unforgettable. Honestly you couldn’t have picked anyone else for number 11 unless you were trying to start a riot.