Zeena Isaacs
8 September 2009
Johannesburg — THE Springbok medical team will be working around the clock in the next few days to get star wing Bryan Habana fit for Saturday's Tri-Nations finale against New Zealand in Hamilton.
Reports from Australia on Sunday said the player should be ready for the clash after leaving the field late in the first half last Saturday in Brisbane, but the picture looked more serious yesterday when the Springbok team announcement was delayed until tomorrow.
De Villiers usually announces his team on a Tuesday, but with Habana being one of his key players, the coach has decided to give the player as much time as possible to recover to boost hopes of chalking up a second win on tour. The team management are expected to make a final call on his fitness later in the week.
Should the player be ruled out, De Villiers will be forced to field a new-look back three. Right wing JP Pietersen returned home after the Boks' first tour game in Perth with a torn hamstring and was replaced by Odwa Ndungane .
As there are several versatile backs in the touring squad, the coach will have a few options should Habana be sidelined.
Frans Steyn -- who has been relegated to the bench to make way for flyhalf Morné Steyn and new fullback Ruan Pienaar in the starting XV -- started off his international career on the left wing, and he could have an inside lane to the position.
Another option would be to select Jean de Villiers and Adrian Jacobs at centre, with Jaque Fourie moving to the wing.
However, Fourie has shown burning form at centre in the past few weeks, and his line breaks and defence has been invaluable in the Bok set-up. It could be a huge risk for the coach to split up his effective centre pairing.
That said, while Steyn and Fourie would undoubtedly be able to stand their ground at wing, Habana's services would be sorely missed should he be ruled out.
Apart from his effectiveness in following up kicks by scrumhalf Fourie du Preez and flyhalf Morné Steyn -- which have been a vital part of the team's game plan -- his defence has been outstanding.
The player also made two scintillating try-saving tackles against Australia on Saturday, bashing wing Lachie Turner -- who was over the tryline -- into touch in the 17th minute and taking down flyhalf Matt Giteau in the 19th minute after an impressive line break. This got the Boks out of jail, for a while.
Making Habana's presence even more important is the fact that the Springboks need a bonus point from the match to bolster their title hopes.
If New Zealand beat the Boks without a bonus point and the visitors earn a bonus point for losing within seven points or scoring four tries, they will be crowned the champions.
A defeat without a bonus point, however, could give New Zealand the chance of a dramatic comeback in the series. They could snatch the title from the Springboks' grasp if they beat Australia in Wellington next Saturday with four tries .
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