Habana warns of England hazard
South Africa wing Bryan Habana said England deserve more respect than they have been getting and are a real World Cup threat.
Habana, speaking ahead of the Springboks' encounter with England at Twickenham on Saturday, said the home team will have a point to prove at home.
England have beaten South Africa giants South Africa, New Zealand and Australia just twice in 12 Tests under coach Stuart Lancaster – with none of those wins against the Springboks.
However, Habana is adamant they are an improving side.
"They've been on a very steady upward curve," he said of an England team beaten 24-21 by World Cup champions New Zealand at Twickenham last Saturday.
"They've managed to restore a lot of pride in the jersey and they're playing a brand of rugby that means they can push a lot of top teams very close," he said.
"They're on the up and having the World Cup in England next year they will want to go out and show they deserve to be up there with the best in the world.
"It hasn't been an easy road but they've got to the point where they're respected globally."
South Africa are also looking to bounce back from their surprise 15-29-15 defeat against Ireland in Dublin last week.
And they will hope to do it at Twickenham, where Habana, one of the best wings of his generation, made his international debut as a try-scoring replacement in 2004.
He has now scored 56 tries in 104 Tests, an impressive strike-rate, and Habana was also a key member of the Springboks' 2007 World Cup-winning team.
But he said Twickenham still held a special place in his affections.
"Making my debut 10 years ago, scoring a try against the then world champions at the home of rugby with your first touch in international rugby is a fairytale start," Habana said.
"We went on to lose that game – 2004 was probably when England were at their best – and my second game at Twickenham in 2006, but the week after we won there.
"When I started out one stand hadn't been properly built. Now you've got 85,000 people singing Swing Low. It is a special place to play rugby."
Source: AFP
