In 2007 Habana, who has clocked 10.2s for the 100m, raced against a cheetah as part of a conservation campaign. For once he finished as a runner-up.
Here we pick our top five best rugby wingers of all time. We’ve used a number of stats to quantify our rankings, as well as a player’s overall contribution to the game. So who makes it into our top five?
All stats come from ESPN.com and are correct as of the publish date.
Honourable mentions: Doug Howlett (New Zealand), Rory Underwood (England), Ieuan Evans (Wales), Jeff Wilson (New Zealand)
5 Best Rugby Wingers Of All Time
#5. Jason Robinson (England)
Playing as a wing or fullback, the 2003 World Cup-winner won 51 rugby union international caps for England and is the first black man to captain the England team. Throughout his career Robinson was noted for his speed and acceleration, side-step and ability to beat defenders.
Sir Ian McGeechan said: "He made such an impact on the game when moving from rugby league. He had dazzling feet that meant he so often beat the first defender and, like most top wingers, you could play off him as well as him being such a devastating finisher."
MELBOURNE - JUNE 21: Jason Robinson of England charges forward during the Rugby Union Test Match between Australia and England held on June 21, 2003 at The Telstra Dome, in Melbourne, Australia. England won the match 25-14. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
DID YOU KNOW? Jason Robinson's try in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final is the men in whites only score in four finals
#4. David Campese (Australia)
Campese, also known as Campo, is a former Australian rugby union player (1982-1996), who was capped by the Wallabies 101 times, and played 85 Tests at wing and 16 at fullback. He was famous for his "goose-step" — a hitch-kick motion which left opponents stumbling to try to tackle him
McGeechan said: "He was another game-changer: different but clever. He won games for Australia on his own and often gave his country a confidence about their rugby that they did not always have before."
DID YOU KNOW? Campese was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1997
#3. Shane Williams (Wales)
Whether it was a "jinking" run or a "jinking" step to evade the embrace of his opponent, Williams would often stagger belief with his abrupt movement—both with and without the ball.
McGeechan said: "Defied convention because he was so small, but he was powerful and sharp. Wales have not been the same attacking force since he finished. He could raise their game on his own."
#2. Bryan Habana (South Africa)
A World Cup winner in 2007, he chalked up records quicker than he sprints past opponents, scoring ten tries in his first ten Tests and 15 in his first 20.
McGeechan said: "Equal record-holder with Lomu on number of RWC tries. Very powerful and if you get him to within 5m of the line, he probably scores more tries than anyone else."
DID YOU KNOW?
#1. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
The New Zealander remains the joint all-time top try scorer at the Rugby World Cup along with Bryan Habana, crossing the whitewash on 15 different occasions across the 1995 and 1999 tournaments. The easiest selection in any greatest ever XV and an easy selection as number one on a list of the best rugby wingers.
McGeechan said: "He simply changed the game and drew non-rugby people to watch the sport. He arrived at a time when professionalism was imminent and his impact, both on the field and off it as a rugby superstar, is still felt now."
DID YOU KNOW? Jonah Lomu met Robin Williams in 1998 and the pair remained friends for life
