Rugby World Cup: Habana thrills his coach as he equals Lomu try record

South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer believes Bryan Habana is peaking at the right time after the winger equalled Jonah Lomu’s World Cup try record.

The 32-year-old scored a 19-minute hat-trick as the Springboks hammered the USA 64-0 last night to reach the quarter-finals, where they will face Australia or Wales.

Habana drew level with former All Black Lomu’s record of 15 World Cup tries, with Damian de Allende, Bismarck Du Plessis, Jesse Kriel, Lwazi Mvovo and two from Francois Louw completing the scoring at the Olympic Stadium.

Meyer said: “He is always the guy who comes through in big games. He didn’t have a good off-season and couldn’t get going. Now he is getting momentum as I didn’t think in the last three or four weeks he has been at his best.

“I didn’t even know he had got the record, I was more focused on the game. But I’m so proud of him and it is great. He is a great ambassador for South Africa and I hope he has peaked at the right time.

“He will need to score more tries as well but I’m pleased for him. He is looking forward and getting the ball in his hand — he has more experience and has been great for the past two games.”

Having recovered from their shock defeat by Japan in their opening match, Meyer insists South Africa are ready for the knock-out stages as they chase a third Cup triumph.

“I know we are better prepared and we will face one of the best two in the world (next). We have to be more clinical and use every opportunity.

“I believe we have been under so much pressure but luckily we have a little break (the quarter-final is on Saturday week).

“The great thing after we played Japan was that we changed the game plan. It will be a cracker of a game and it doesn’t matter what happened before. We are looking forward to it, the confidence is there but we have to stay humble.”