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Bryan Habana picks All Black to smash his World Cup try-scoring record
Springboks legend Bryan Habana believes that All Blacks winger Rieko Ioane will break his Rugby World Cup try-scoring record.
Habana scored eight during South Africa’s World Cup winning campaign in 2007, and thinks 21-year-old Ioane is the man to eclipse that mark.
Former All Black Julian Savea – the man who preceded Ioane in the All Blacks’ No. 11 jersey – equalled Habana’s mark at the tournament’s 2015 iteration.
Ioane made his All Blacks debut in November 2016 and has since made 23 more appearances, crossing for 22 tries.
“To be brutally honest, I think it is written on the wall for Rieko to break the Rugby World Cup record of the most tries in one competition,” Habana told Stuff.
“He has a phenomenal strike rate, and reminds me of Julian Savea in 2015.
“Rieko has every opportunity to beat the record, and records are there to be broken.”
35-year-old Habana announced his retirement earlier this year after five seasons with French club Toulon.
Both Habana and Ioane first found fame playing international sevens.
Ioane made his debut for the national sevens side in early 2015 at just 17 years old.
After Ioane helped the All Blacks Sevens edge England in the final of the Wellington leg of the World Series, England captain Tom Mitchell said “I didn’t realise he [Ioane] was only 17. He certainly didn’t look that age close up. He is the strongest 17-year old I have ever come across. He is no doubt a talent and one to watch for the future.”
Ioane will next take the field when the Blues begin their 2019 Super Rugby campaign.
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