Springbok Bryan Habana has signed to stay at Western Province for another three years, turning down more lucrative offers from abroad.
Habana, who was last week linked to talks in Japan with the Kobe Steelers, has apparently decided to stay for less money than his previous contract at Western Province and will put all his focus on the Stormers Super Rugby campaigns.
It also keeps him in contention for a Springbok call-up even though his place is under threat from Bulls utility back Francois Hougaard.
Habana’s agent Craig Livingstone confirmed to SuperSport.com that his client had signed with Western Province and was going nowhere.
While Jaque Fourie continues to be lured by the Kobe Steelers, where fellow Stormer Peter Grant plays his rugby, no decision on his future has been made yet.
Habana also rubbished the reports, which originated from Japan, on twitter.
“Heard yesterday that I am in talks with some Japanese clubs??!?? That’s the 1st I’ve heard of it!!” Habana tweeted on the matter.
“Amazing how some journalists can write the biggest load of nonsense to create sensationalism & then never apologise or correct their wrongs!”
Habana’s contract extention begins at the end of the Currie Cup.
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October 17th, 2011 at 10:24 am
As Bernie said… it’s never been about money for Brian…
October 17th, 2011 at 11:00 am
Ja well, WP must retain the palookas
because they let all the bright new
talent go.
I can just imagine how utterly useless
he will be in 3 years time.
October 17th, 2011 at 11:06 am
janee what a buy. keeps the silverware away from Cape Town for a while longer yet.
October 17th, 2011 at 11:40 am
Plaas hulle STUTTE kry!!
October 17th, 2011 at 11:45 am
One player isn’t going to determine whether or not silverware comes to CT or not.
And with their actual newly found wings winging it to Pretoria… well not bad..
Leave the stutte
They are needed in Joburg along with a scrumhalf!
October 17th, 2011 at 11:56 am
I like this move. Habana showing loyalty to SA/WP. If he is not good enough the coach should drop him but he is there if needed.
McCaw and Carter also extended their contracts allthough they are on their way out – also good to show loayalty and keep the “intellectual” property in the country.
Not the players fault if he keeps getting selected if not performing and in a slump – fault the coaches for selecting him!
October 17th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Reply to JT_BOKBEFOK! @ 11:56 am:
well the bolla conradie/januarie/ episode should tell you that wp often persists with kak players for years on end.
habana to chase away more win talent as he a) is royalty and will not be dropped and 2) costs so much that they cannot contract other young talent.
October 17th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Reply to its a 15 man game – embrace it! @ 12:13 pm:
2) costs so much that they cannot contract other young talent.
———-
And therefore must play him to try and
get value back for their money.
Counterproductive IMO.
October 17th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Habana was one of the better Bok’s this RWC…
October 17th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
I am glad after been a long suffering province fan that I ditched this large overrated coke sniffing private school boy circus!
Keeping Brian while loosing some of the other younger players can only point to which supporter base they wish to attract! WP I can help you, fucking win something and they will come!
October 17th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 12:39 pm:
Don’t expect any support from SA supporters on that statement mate.
October 17th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
Ag Fok
October 17th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Reply to Morné @ 1:00 pm:
Oh I won’t… the stats from this RWC only back-up that statement…
It’s also interesting… just who are all these fantastic wings they are losing?
JJ is a bright star… so far… who else?
Habana would make any Aussie S15 side… he’s a superstar…
October 17th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 1:15 pm:
A couple of guys that shows lots of promise but are still to make the step up.
Sadie moved for money – that much has been confirmed – I suspect JJ too.
Habana signed on nothing more than loyalty to SA and WP rugby – he has actually taken a reduction in his pay at WP.
If guys want to move for money, let them go.
October 17th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Geez but WP are awful at contracting decent players and they’re forever letting good ones go…
Of recent contracting has included stellar players like Bryan Habana and Jacque Fourie and Conrad Jantjes and Rickie Januarie and Schalk Britz and CJ VD Linde and Adriaan Fondze
Then they have bled out the likes of:
Hoffman
Grant
Hougaard F
Josh Strauss
JJ Engelbrecht
Johan Sadie
If anything WP has proven itself inept at retaining talent whilst remarkably profligate in letting its own talent go… in fact in the case of Januarie and Britz these were outstanding WP players released from contract that they attracted BACK AFTER these guys reached stardom with the Lions…
Perhaps WP should rather just let other unions contract their best and make them stars rather then choose which will make it and which not…
October 17th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Reply to Morné @ 1:19 pm:
For sure… must be like a dream come true for the young wings coming up to have Brian as a mentor…
Habana is so loaded as the heir to the family millions… money means nothing to him… all loyalty…
October 17th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Been reading “Larger than Life” on Jan Pickard.
Became WP president, then they won 5 CC’s in a row.
His style of management says it all:
Players first.
Saw to it that their attachments also got
tickets to Newlands.
Upped their “expenses” from R25 p.m. to
R700 (other unions were receiving around
R20.)
Each end of season took them on a week’s
holiday, as far as Mauritius.
Tore down the old stadium and rebuilt it
WITHOUT ANY DEBT.
“Bought” only one player: Theuns Stofberg, by
offering him a job.
October 17th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Dunno dude
Maybe as a mentor or future coach but after he took that big hit from Aus 12 in the semi he was a broken warrior… the dude HAD to do his part and come off… staying on harmed the team…
Personal view is that a mentor or future coach is his job… as a player I suspect his days are numbered…
Playing at WP cannot help…
October 17th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 2:31 pm:
The flip side is that pressure will be off Habana now from an international perspective – I got the feeling he was not enjoying his rugby anymore which directly influenced his form.
This might well change.
Habs is a quality player, and still only 28 years old.
October 17th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
Reply to Morné @ 2:42 pm:
Put it to you this way, I am glad he is staying at WP – guy is an asset for more than just 80 minutes on the park on weekends.
October 17th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Reply to Morné @ 2:42 pm:
He’s a big big man… personally if I’d have read the vitriol on blogs and in the media (still continuing) I’d have packed up and headed for a team (or country) where fans without blinkers appreciated me…
He’s still got at least two seasons in him…
October 17th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 2:31 pm:
Yet he still managed to put in two big hits before being monstered by Samo…
October 17th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 3:40 pm:
Ja Bryce but even that tackle from Samo was the result of being tentative and you could see that he had taken not just a knock but a confidence knock too…
I am not dissing the guy
He took TWO incorrect options on attack and got massive hits on both occasions messing up promising attacks.
I agree with Morne that he is an asset to any team… but as an international… he needs to get some confidence back…
October 17th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
The second hit came because he failed to pass and he was tentative and slow off the mark… confidence clearly shot…
October 17th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 4:12 pm:
He does indeed need some confidence back or just start enjoying his rugby. Here’s hoping.
October 17th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
Ja well, I don’t mind being in the minority.
But to me he’s a clumsy player and
a graceless runner.
But then I come from the era of Jannie Engelbrecht,
Gerrie Germishuys, Carel du Plessis etc.
October 17th, 2011 at 6:02 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 5:54 pm:
You are definitely not in the minority.
October 17th, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 4:12 pm:
He got smashed by Samo because it was a poorly planned play…
You don’t throw an inside pass against the masters of the inside pass unless there is some space… Morne flicked it inside and Samo smashed him… hospital pass it was…
October 17th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
HABANA’S RICHES
Director of 6 companies, aongst others
Vryan Habana Properties and Sarpacom.
Two of the 6 are acitive.
Flat in Northcliff (R692,000).
Sectional Title property in Pretoria (R2,26 m)
50% share in Parow property worth R8 m.
Source: Rapport
October 17th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Jannie and Carel I agree Boer but him and Gerrie have a VERY similar running style.
Remember the way Gerrie also bent his back and made his neck crooked and slouchie when he went full tilt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSnSLUtHa00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN169E6k-uo&feature=related
Kyk nou Habana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYVz2OkXMU0&feature=related
Presies dieselfde hardloop styl.
Carel Du Plessis was net imperious met sy regop styl van hardloop… soos Edrich Krantz… en Jaco Reinach… regop atlete
October 17th, 2011 at 9:52 pm
I like Basson’s running style, effortless and light on his feet. Aplon likewise. But wht the hell do I know, I played hooker
October 17th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Reply to JT_BOKBEFOK! @ 9:52 pm: Hookers know their game
October 17th, 2011 at 11:46 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 12:39 pm: He tried hard but no he was not one of the better players. He is a one trick pony. If Habadonna can just add a little more variation and a few more skills a winger should have then maybe.
Hougie is way better. He shimmies, side steps,wayless predictable that why he makes ground. If think even Aplon is way better. too.
Reply to Boertjie @ 5:54 pm: jeez those were the days. Bok backline players running like the wind.
We still have players like that but they are either not chosen or the creativity is coached out of them.
Reply to DavidS @ 9:16 pm: thats like porn for me seen those greats playing. Your point is valid, if we had better centres that might make Habadonna look better. But a pony is a pony.
October 18th, 2011 at 3:19 am
Reply to Kevin_rack @ 11:46 pm: No the pony title is a bit harsh on Brian, Kevin. I was at all the Bok games during RWC 2011 and watched Brian when he wasn’t on camera and he played his heart out on defence, entering rucks and covering. He did not receive much down the line ball outwide and seemed intent on fetching the ball himself. Maybe the criticism he cops has more to do with your comment about the backline he plays in. How good would he be playing outside Weepu, Cruden, Nonu and Smith in the retreaded Hurricanes AB backline?
October 18th, 2011 at 5:34 am
Reply to Kevin_rack @ 11:46 pm:
Hougaard did not make a single line-break this RWC and missed a shocking 50% of his tackles every game…
And don’t get me started on JPP…
So no… Brian Habana considering the lack of ball, was by far the best Bok winger of the tournament.
There is no better cover-defender in South Africa if not the world at the moment.
He’s make every side in Aus.
October 18th, 2011 at 8:01 am
Is JdV staying? If so put him on left wing, Habs @ 13(where he started) and De Jongh at 12. It is worth a try.
Hell even let Habs play 12 and see.
October 18th, 2011 at 8:07 am
How was that 19821 try by Germishuis? The speed of the backline leaving acres of space…
And the 1976 one with the hand speed of the 15 in the pass beating the defenders… In that though I think we also see Germishuis as a … two trick pony…
1. Speed
2. GREAT hands he could catch an oiled eel underwater with his eyes closed relying just on touch… if you want to see how good his hands really are then look at the last try he scores in the 1980 1st test against the Lions…
October 18th, 2011 at 9:02 am
Reply to DavidS @ 8:07 am:
I don’t want to burst the old toppies bubble but some reality!! No question that some of those guys were great to watch but the to be fair the forwards were big, fat and slow compared to todays forwards which means today there is a lot less space on the pitch than there was in the 70′s.
See how good our backs look against Fiji, Namibia? These are the defensive structures that can be compared to the 70′s so the players are not worse than they were in the 70′s – in´fact the players are way BETTER today!
Different era – can’t compare todays warriors with those of the 70′s!
October 18th, 2011 at 9:17 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 5:34 am: fuck me I must have been watching some other shit cos Hougaard look liked he made plenty of yards and some great off loads and for me had the unpredictability that fools modern defenses.
Will Hougaard become the stats player. If you mght not make the tackle dont do it as it will mess your stats. Or attend a ruck but dont actually make an impact, like Vic.(Bad example as he was great but some times his impact at the ruck was like hitting your mate with a wet argus)
Stats are your thing and some players have brillaint stats but they can be played. 100% attendance of rucks, no missed tackles, line breaks can be a load of crap.
This why I was happy to see hungrier younger players who dont just get selected because they are smart enough to know what to do make the stats look good.
Sorry Habadonna will need to come up with some more unpredictability to be a threat.
October 18th, 2011 at 9:21 am
Reply to DavidS @ 8:07 am: Hey dont call Gerrie a pony…thats looking for kak
Reply to Deon @ 8:01 am: not convinced Habadonna has the skills as a centre yet. Get some skills coaches in. He has a decent boot, great speed so maybe.
October 18th, 2011 at 10:27 am
Reply to Kevin_rack @ 9:21 am:
Hell mate, he came onto the scene playing 13 for the Lions before he moved to the Bulls. Jake selected him at 11 on the EOYT because of his electric CC season and from there the Bulls kept him there.
October 18th, 2011 at 10:29 am
on a personal note:
Austria play against israel in Vienna on Saturday and 2 of my guys are in the starting team and 1 on call up.
Max – prop is only 21
Lukas – lock is only 20 (Now captains my team)
Carl – winger is 22 and on call up.
PS: All Austrian born/bred – no expats like the poms have
October 18th, 2011 at 10:53 am
any player that has entire blogs worth of people spinning positive shite about him in an effort to make him look ‘not so bad’ is in my mind not worth it.
Habana simply cannot do whats expected of a wing. I called for him to be a 13 a very long time ago but in SA we are not allowed to experiment with anything.
As a wing this bloke is every bit as kak as Jean Divs is at 12. A traight swop might not be a bad thing.
Habana is also a victim of the lack of enterprise shown by SA backline coaches over the past 6 years. He used to be rather hot.
Bryce to say he was the ‘best SA wing’ says just shy of fokkol. An underused position in a team that playes 10 man rugby? Whoo hooo.
October 20th, 2011 at 10:58 am
http://www.rugbyxv.co.za/coaches-corner/news/495-no-value-for-wp
the other side of the story.
did not Morne claim that Habana did this out of pure loyalty to wp and SA?
He is so loyal to WP that he would single handedly chase away many youngsters so he can collect a few more paycheques. And heaven forbid the new coach selects this deadwood for the Boks?