Boudjellal banking on Habana magic
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal is counting on some magic from his latest big signing, Bryan Habana, when the South African wing makes his Top 14 debut on Saturday.
"Each time I managed to sign a big-name player, be that [Tana] Umaga or [Jonny] Wilkinson, he has succeeded in doing something decisive in his first match," Boudjellal said.
"I hope this magic will continue in Grenoble, but the magic, it's something quite tricky to manage, it's not an exact science. It works or it doesn't work."
Likely to be named among the replacements for Saturday's match against Grenoble, Habana might only have a matter of minutes to show his immediate worth to his demanding president.
Habana, one of the deadliest finishers in the world after having amassed 51 tries in 88 matches for the Springboks, has rejoined Toulon after appearing in the opening two matches of the Rugby Championships.
The wing was present for pre-season with the French club and played two friendlies.
"When he arrived in July, I thought that he'd already been there last season," said scrumhalf Sebastien Tillous-Borde.
"He's adapted very quickly. He makes the effort to speak French and he's very smiley, it's important for the squad."
All the weekend's Top 14 fixtures (all times GMT):
Friday, August 30: Stade Francais v Biarritz (18.50)
Saturday, August 31: Clermont v Toulouse (13.00), Bordeaux-Begles v Castres, Montpellier v Brive, Racing-Metro v Oyonnax (all 16.30), Bayonne v Perpignan (18.30), Grenoble v Toulon (18.35)
AFP
