Habana gave an interview to Supersport’s Gavin Rich. This is the man, Habana, I know. You took one of our best in his prime, WP. Good luck with your health Habs. Let us see what difference you can make there. Respect for not badmouthing your old team. What a difference to the whole argy bargy way the Lion players left their old team. The dirty washing where one name is the common denominator , Lions.
“No matter how big the stage is that you have played on, you do obviously feel nervous when you are starting out with a new team,” said Habana.
“But the game on Saturday is just a warm-up game, broken into four quarters. It is all about getting systems right, getting in some practice ahead of the real thing. You want to win, but it is not imperative, so I wouldn’t say I am too anxious about the Force game.
“What will be big for me though is the match against the Lions. That is where I started my senior career before moving across to the Bulls for five years, and I always like to do well against them. I obviously also want to make as big an impression as I can for my new franchise, and it will be crucial to win our opening Super 14 match.”
He has only been in the Cape for a few months, but Habana feels he has settled quickly into his new life – and the fanatical Stormers fans have helped.
“I can’t believe how welcome everyone makes me feel. Everywhere I go people are going out of their way to welcome me to the Cape.
It is really humbling. Of course in Pretoria you get the true blue Bulls fan, and they are special people, but it is astounding how in Cape Town you can be 600 metres away and people will shout out to you and let everyone in the shopping centre know you are there. This is fanatical rugby country.”
Habana would like to reward the enthusiasm of the Cape fans by helping create a winning culture like the one that has seen his former team establish themselves as the leading provincial team in world rugby.
“I had an honest chat with Rassie Erasmus when I was being recruited by the Stormers. It took me about 10 days to make up my mind, and one of the things I wanted to make sure of was that I was moving to a place where a winning culture could be created,” said the 26 year old Springbok wing.
“I was impressed with Rassie’s plans and his determination to get the Stormers and Western Province to succeed. I felt I wanted to go somewhere I could make a difference, but I would never have moved down if I could not see the potential for the Stormers to be a winning franchise.
“Obviously I came here not quite knowing what to expect, but the work ethic here has been amazing. To see the work the guys are putting in, and to be part of it, has been really encouraging. Work ethic is a big thing at the Bulls, and it was one of the reasons I might initially have been sceptical about moving down, but thankfully my fears have been completely allayed.
“Elsewhere there is a perception that the Stormers have a bit of a surfer image, but when you see Joe Pietersen running so hard in the front in training, to see the amount of work that Juan de Jongh puts in during the gym sessions it completely sweeps away any misconception.”
Although he was sweating it out for the Bulls last year, Habana was also encouraged by what he saw from WP in the Currie Cup.
“The progress being made is clear for all to see. WP were one high tackle away from being in the Currie Cup final, somewhere I don’t think they have been since 2001. There has been a revolution in the Cape approach to the game, with the forwards now putting in the hard yards. We will be looking to play exciting, attacking rugby this season, but that will not be possible without a strong pack. The WP pack came a long way in 2009.”
Habana is ‘n groot aanwins vir die stormpies, en hulle gaan definitief baat by sy spelbreek vermoe.
Sal maar moet sien hoe duur betaal die Bulle vir hul verlies. Dalk werk dinge nog uit vir ons. Maar met die nuwe reels sal ons ons game plan kwaai moet aanpas.
Julle het nog baie kwaliteit, maar ‘n speler soos Habana vervang jy nie sommer nie. Maar onthou nog Habana se swak spelpeil in 2008 na die Wereld beker, die bulle het per toeval nie baie goed gevaar daai jaar nie.
Die voordeel van ‘n speler soos Habana is dat die ou altyd iets soek om te doen. Hy is nie ‘n lui rugby speler nie.
Hy was baie deur FdP in die spel gesit, met steekskoppies en up en unders. Ek wonder of die Stormers dit gaan probeer na doen.
Hulle sal weet hoe om hom te gebruik. Almal in die wereld weet waartoe hy instaat is. Ek wonder hoe hy gaan doen in sy eerste game teen die Bulls.
Imagine hy druk die wen drie teen die Bulls soos hy teen ons Sharks gedoen het in 2007. 😆
6
lang krokedil trane dan hierso
Habana, If you went to the Cheetahs, Sharks, or back to the Lions you would have been made JUST AS WELCOME. You are the best wing in world rugby. OF COURSE you would be made very welcome at WP/Stormers. Every Franchise would want you in their team, every supporter would too. Nothing so special about the fans in Cape Town, you Brian Habana are being far too modest, it is you mate that is so very special. How I would have welcomed you to the Sharks too and all the supporters as well.
Good luck and all the best at Stormers/WP Habs. I once met you at a restaurant in Joburg, you are the most humble and decent person ever. You will always be a Bull to me and probably to all the Bull supporters too. Just as long as you are a Springbok that is all that matters to me and all South Africans. You make us proud.
Evening Ash, See you up there. How you mate? What time does Stormers play the Force tomorrow?
History always repeats itself……….Big Joke, Watson, Schalk Brits, January……….
Jis Super.
Ek verwys graag na jou volgende comment “Respect for not badmouthing your old team.”
Ek weet nie of jy die posts op News24 gevolg het nie? Daar was tot Bull supporters wat wens Habana breek ‘n been!! En dan wonder julle hoekom die res an die land julle ouens so haat en dink julle is common?
Maar dit is dieselfde met die Lion supporters teenoor Jacque Fourie. Ja, sy situasie was anders, maar die supporters maak nou of hy die kakste senter ooit was ens. Maar sodra die speler iets sê, dan is hy windgat en ‘n aap ens.
KP,
Jy sal op enige website van enige span daai tipe blogger/ondersteuner kry. Ek het toe Habana dit aangekondig het baie gaan loer wat die Bulle op hul site gese het. Ja daar was erg teleurgestelde manne, manne wat beledigend was ens. Maar die oorgrote meerderheid het hom sterkte toegewens. Baie van ons het ook nie skadelike goed gese soos hoop hy besef hy loop van n wen kultuur ensovoorts.
kyk selfs ek wens hom gesondheid toe maar hoop nie hy bring vir julle die s14 kroon nie, ons soek dit weer.
Kyk meeste Bulle besef wat ons verloor het.
Twee dinge word nou getoets by die Bulle,
Kan ons deur ons strukture n nuwe man kry?
en die boodskap dat GEEN speler groter as die Unie is nie moet nou bewys word.
Om aan te las hierbo,
Ek hoop net dat ons SA spanne nie mekaar uitroei nie, ons moet eerder ons oorsese teenstanders uitoorle.
Wat julle nou kwaai moet manage daar onder , en of julle coach dit kan doen is om al daai agterlyn sterre saam te laat werk, Ricky, Habs, Jaque, Gio, Bekker, Nakelavuki … 😆
Gelukig is die Lions jul eerste teenstanders, ek dink julle gaan mekaar opdonner.
Stormers gaan die Lions op die Lions se tuisveld oortuigend klop…. met die 1ste Super 14 game.
More GBS ja ek dink hulle is benoude boude in die Coke blikkie. Daai telling laasjaar is nie mooi nie. Nou is daar nog Habs en JF wat elk n klomp kan score.
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