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Bok coach defends Habana

Thursday 13th November 2008

Bryan Habana: Not resting on his laurels

South Africa backs coach Dick Muir has denied suggestions from Australia great David Campese that Springbok star wing Bryan Habana is "resting on his laurels" after winning the World Cup last year.

Habana, the International Rugby Board (IRB) player of the year for 2007, has scored just one try in his last eight Tests.

"Habana likes to talk himself up before games and then nothing happens... It's as if he is resting on his laurels," Campese told South Africa's Die Burger newspaper.

On Thursday Muir came out in defence of the star winger, saying there was no place for slackers in the Springboks squad.

"You can't have any players who are resting on their laurels in this side, the competition is so intense and if one player isn't pulling his weight, he will be replaced," said Muir.

"I just think that the old phrase about form being temporary but class being forever stands strong for Bryan. He is a classy player and he has shown that in the past.

"He works hard, he really has worked hard. He's a great personality in the side, he brings a lot to the team, he's one of those energetic guys who is always all over the show.

"And although his form hasn't been the greatest of late, he has been working really hard so we expect him to bounce back any minute."

Muir added he was expecting the team as a whole to raise its game against Scotland at Murrayfield this Saturday after South Africa's 20-15 win over Wales in Cardiff last weekend.

"If the conditions are good and favourable, we'd like to move the ball around a bit," he said.

"But, if not, then we've got to adapt. I think our performance last week wasn't that good and we want to improve on that this week.

"Although we got the result we wanted last week, we didn't play the way we wanted to play because of a number of factors.

"Our penalty count was way too high and we gave away far too much possession, so we really want to improve in those departments and be a more complete side.

"The Scottish side like to have a go as a team, they'll move the ball around, and they like to keep possession for long periods, so we'll have to be sharp in our defence, and I'll think you'll see a marked improvement there."