Habana is a legend, his total of 67 tries, which currently stands as the second highest total in test rugby, is unlikely to be matched by another Bok. He was three tries away from being the highest try scorer in ts rugby. Who could forget his debut against England, scoring with his first touch of the ball after only being on the field for mere seconds. One just knew he was going to be something special. Over the past ten years, we've seen many wings come and go, but nobody could replace Habana. Noone could step into his shoes and be that man on the wing. There was Nowke and Chavangha, both met with much praise and high hopes. They subsequently disappeared long before Bryan finally hung up his boots. Mapoe, Mvovo, Basson, Hougaard, Willie, Combrinck, Hendricks. All but one are gone, and Willie made fullback his permanent home.
Dyantyi is the first to really show signs of greatness. He has been a key Bok, exhibiting tremendous athleticism and skills driven by a good rugby brain and assuredness under pressure. His first 8 tests have all been sequential in one season. A tough and physical series against a strong England side that really cut up the Boks soft underbelly and the Rugby Championship. His try count stands at 6 tries in 8 test. We're it not for a couple of slightly forward passes, he'd have 8 in 8. He has scored twice against the All Blacks and once against Australia, twice against Los Pumas and once against England, where the Boks primary directed play towards Nkosi. He selflessly gave up a try to Mapimpi as well. He appears to be a very well rounded player.
How does this compare to early Habana? He began his test career on the underwhelming EOYT of 2004, making his debut against England as a replacement. He scored, as said earlier, with his first touch of the ball a fews seconds off the bench. He'd notch up two against Scotland, but none against Argentina. He began 2005 with a bang, scoring two tries in three consecutive tests against Uruguay in an all time Bok win, and a two test French series. He'd score one try in a two test series against Australia prior to the Tri Nations. In the Tri Nations itself, he scored 3 tries in 4 tests: 1 against New Zealand in Dunedin and 2 against the Wallabies in Perth. These were Habana's first 8 tests.
So how does Dyantyi compare? Did he face better opposition than Habana? Did he exhibit a more complete game over the incredible speed and long strike capability of Habana? Or was Habana clearly the better debutant? How high can Dyantyi take his game and what are your expectations for the foreseeable future?
