INTERVIEW: BRYAN HABANA:South Africa's blue-chip player has been subjected to jeering by his own fans, but he's determined to bounce back, writes Johnny Watterson

IF YOU were to pick the most mercurial strike runner in the world, Bryan Habana may not be far off your first-choice player. The winger, who currently stands on the cusp of setting a record for the most career tries for a Springbok, has pace, anticipation, strength and quick feet, but for the past few months his reputation has never been so low in the minds of the South African public.

In 2007 Habana equalled All Black Jonah Lomu’s record of eight tries in a World Cup. In June of this year the Springboks demolished Italy 55-11 in east London, which brought his tally to 38 touchdowns in 60 Tests to equal Joost Van der Westhuizen’s record. Six Tests and a miserable Tri-Nations later, he remains on 38 tries. Habana is a blue-chip player, but this season the South African crowds decided he was no longer untouchable and have subjected him to a cacophony of boos and jeers, at one time unthinkable.

“It is never a nice thing to have to go through. Disappointed in the crowd to get jeered by them,” he says. “To have done so much for your country and see crowds turn their back on you is rather hurtful. But as I’ve said it does make you strong. There is no professional athlete in the world that has ups and never has any downs. You have to learn from those times and when the times are good you’ve got to be humble and be careful. So it was hurtful.

“It was something I had to deal with, but you know I’ve been scoring some tries, playing some good rugby and the important thing is to enjoy it again. Sometimes in the professional era some times things get so crowded in your head that you forget why you actually play this game.”

Ireland is as good a place as any to begin a rehabilitation. That he is in a back line that has been cobbled together may not help his cause, or his desire to get over the line once more and claim the record outright. At 27, he has time and with an average of more than a try every two Tests, he will surely set the bar much higher despite the relative trough he finds himself in.

“I’ve been quite disappointed with my form outside of my try-scoring abilities over the Tri Nations period,” he says. “I’m now enjoying my rugby again. It’s very exciting to be in the team at the moment. The greatest contribution I can make to this team is that we have a few youngsters that need old heads around them. Someone like Bjorn Basson has only two caps; someone like Gio Aplon, as exciting as he is, has only nine Tests behind his name. What’s important to the team is sticking to the structures and doing well individually within the structures.”

The Irish players are no stranger to Habana. He rates Tommy Bowe as one of the top three wingers in the world and from the recent Lions tour name-checks Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald and points to the leadership of Brian O’Driscoll as pivotal to how Ireland perform. It’s not hollow talk from the left wing, who has been stung by Irish wins before.

“There’s a lot of respect for each and every one of the Irish players. My opposite number, Tommy Bowe, has been playing some awesome rugby the last year or two,” he says. “I rate him quite highly. His work ethic and his ability to do something from nothing is exceptional. He’s really unbelievable in the air and along with Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney at the back, they form a formidable back three component. Tommy is probably up there in the top two or three in the world right now.”

Overcoming the malaise that sets in after a tough season will be his and the team’s primary goal. While the squad is tired, Habana has been here often enough to know matches are won and lost on margins. The fatigue he sees as mental. “Coming to the Northern Hemisphere at the end of the year and halfway through theirs, mentally we’ve got to make our minds up that we’re not tired and can’t have excuses for performing badly,” he says.

“Ireland has always raised their performances a couple of notches to compete. It’s going to be a tough Test and we’ve got to come to the party.”

Sixty six caps, 38 tries and the first international in the oldest rugby ground in the world.

Not a bad setting for a record?