How Habana got his groove back

Veteran wing Bryan Habana has recaptured his electric form of old in recent weeks after being ordered to back himself by Bok mentor Heyneke Meyer.

Habana was devastating out wide when he played for Meyer at the Bulls, but since his move to the Stormers he has battled to find the form that made him one of the most dangerous runners in the world.

Meyer – speaking after the Boks' 22-17 win over England in Durban at the weekend – explained that he felt Habana had been playing too conservatively in recent times, and he encouraged the record Springbok try-scorer to stop playing it safe in order to take advantage of his 'x-factor'.

The Bok coach said that he had let Habana know that he was under pressure from Bulls try-machine Bjorn Basson, and that in order to keep his spot on the left wing he would have to play with the energy that characterised his rise to the top of the game.

"Bryan has probably played his best rugby for me, we had some long chats and he knew from the start that I thought Bjorn [Basson] was really playing some great rugby.

"I just said to Bryan that he needs to go out there and enjoy the game, I always knew he was a special player and he just needed to go out there and be the vibrant player that he was in the beginning," said Meyer.

The difference was clear to see in the Stormers' victory over the Bulls last week when Habana made some telling runs, and he brought that spark to Durban on Saturday, weaving his way through the England defence on a couple of occasions.

"Bryan got to a stage where he was almost too conservative and I said: 'Bryan, with your x-factor you must go out there and make mistakes but bring that x-factor'.

"He was brilliant in the previous game against the Bulls and I thought he was brilliant at times tonight and he will improve from here," said Meyer.

By Michael de Vries, in Durban