It’s been more than a year since Bryan Habana hung up his twinkle-toed boots.

Just the 124 Springbok caps, with his 67 tries making him the second-highest test rugby try scorer of all time.

He’s been keeping himself occupied with a few business ventures these past 12 months, although the Guardian’s Martin Pengelly did manage to catch up with him in New York recently.

You’re welcome to read the full interview for yourself, but let’s get to what he reckons would eclipse the iconic 1995 World Cup win:

…what would it mean for South Africa if Kolisi was to lift the trophy in Yokohama? “I think it would have a much greater impact than ’95. I think seeing Siya run out as captain in June last year pulled on the emotional strings like ’95, and rightly so.

“For me personally, knowing Siya, knowing his personal history where he literally got raised by his grandmother, had nothing, then got an opportunity … for me this is about a player who first and foremost got chosen on his rugby playing ability. He got made captain on his leadership capabilities and thrived on that responsibility. He wasn’t a token player, being given a position because of our country’s history.

“If South Africa go on and win a World Cup this year outside of South Africa, with Siya Kolisi as the captain, it will be absolutely monumental, especially in a World Cup that is going to be so tough to win.

“For us as a country to have that inspiration, for 70% of our population to have that example, would be immensely important, on a par with Mandela in ’95 if not greater. It would be historic.”

That was followed by a chuckle, with Habana adding “so no pressure on him…”

We’ll always be thankful to Bryan for helping the Boks to their 2007 World Cup, and his speed also resulted in this hilarious clip.

Watching Siya hoist the trophy later this year in Japan would be something special. This World Cup may be one of the more open in recent memory, with the All Blacks showing a few chinks in the armour, but it will take a superhuman effort, and a healthy dose of luck, for us to come out on top.

At least we’ll be wearing some fancy jerseys.

[source:guardian]