Speedster Habana targets top try prize

PARIS – South Africa winger Bryan Habana has set himself a twin target at the World Cup – helping his team win the title and collect the top try scorer plaudits.

Habana has four tries to his name so far with probably more to come against the United States in Montpellier on Sunday before the quarter-final, which will likely be against Wales. Australia’s Drew Mitchell, Shane Williams of Wales, Frenchman Vincent Clerc and All Blacks winger Doug Howlett all have five tries to their names so far.”When we came to this World Cup, every player knew what he was coming for, every player was going to try to make his best contribution to the team,” said Habana.”And my contribution is the energy on the field and to cross the white line and score tries.”You want to rate yourself the best in the world but to do that you have to cross the whitewash on a couple of occasions.Meanwhile, South Africa assistant coach Allister Coetzee said the whole squad was relieved that centre Francois Steyn had been cleared of allegedly biting Tonga’s Joseph Vaka in the 30-25 win last weekend.Steyn was cited after the game, but the Springboks are overjoyed that the player escaped punishment.”I am very relieved.Without our first-choice centre Jean (de Villiers), Francois has stepped into that position well and to know that he is available is a great relief,” said Coetzee.”I was surprised at the citing.The number 11 (Vaka) was causing more trouble than anything and I think he wanted to take some of the spotlight off him by making accusations like that.”Nampa-AFPAustralia’s Drew Mitchell, Shane Williams of Wales, Frenchman Vincent Clerc and All Blacks winger Doug Howlett all have five tries to their names so far.”When we came to this World Cup, every player knew what he was coming for, every player was going to try to make his best contribution to the team,” said Habana.”And my contribution is the energy on the field and to cross the white line and score tries.”You want to rate yourself the best in the world but to do that you have to cross the whitewash on a couple of occasions.Meanwhile, South Africa assistant coach Allister Coetzee said the whole squad was relieved that centre Francois Steyn had been cleared of allegedly biting Tonga’s Joseph Vaka in the 30-25 win last weekend.Steyn was cited after the game, but the Springboks are overjoyed that the player escaped punishment.”I am very relieved.Without our first-choice centre Jean (de Villiers), Francois has stepped into that position well and to know that he is available is a great relief,” said Coetzee.”I was surprised at the citing.The number 11 (Vaka) was causing more trouble than anything and I think he wanted to take some of the spotlight off him by making accusations like that.”Nampa-AFP