Bryan Habana has revealed his Toulon team-mate Steffon Armitage will be “heartbroken” at not being able to run out for England to face him at the Rugby World Cup and expressed relief that South Africa do not have a policy of not selecting overseas-based players.
The wing said he felt for Armitage, the current European player of the year, but was relieved he will not have to face him at Twickenham on Saturday as the Springboks aim to bounce back from their loss to Ireland last week.
Habana, who has scored 280 points for his country against 526 for his 14 teammates combined, believes his game has benefited from the experience of playing in Europe over the past 18 months. “I’m pretty happy that I’m playing with Steffon Armitage at Toulon,” he said. “Nothing against the current loose trio of England, who I think are pretty good, but I’m really happy that I’m not playing against Steffon.”
Habana, 31, said it was sad that a player of Armitage’s calibre is not featuring at international level, but he added he was not surprised that the Rugby Football Union had resisted invoking their “exceptional circumstances” clause to find a way round its rule that overseas-based players cannot be selected for their country.
“As a player you understand the rules and regulations from an administration point of view and you could ask me the same about Matt Giteau, who could easily slot straight back into the Australia squad,” said Habana. “I’m very privileged that South Africa don’t have a rule whereby they can’t select a player from outside the country.”
Eight of the South Africa squad, and three of Saturday’s starting 15 to face England, play their rugby overseas. A recent deal to bring Armitage to Bath that would have enabled him to play for England this autumn and in next year’s World Cup foundered over the finances. Habana said he had spoken to his team-mate several times about the “difficult” situation.
“He really loves England and loved playing for the country. [But] he made the decision a couple of years ago to go to France,” he said. “It’s frustrating if you’ve been playing a level of rugby that sees you selected as European player of the year but you’re not playing for the international team.
“It could be a little heartbreaking for him but it’s a decision he’s taken and a decision he understands. Hopefully there’s light at the end of the tunnel. There could be an exception made.”
