Habana: Fate was against me
The Rugby World Cup try scoring record remained out of reach for Bryan Habana, and the South Africa star expressed his disappointment.
South Africa star Bryan Habana believes fate dictated that he did not break the all-time Rugby World Cup try-scoring record, but says it is perhaps right that he stays tied with New Zealand great Jonah Lomu.
Speedy winger Habana tied Lomu's record of 15 tries with a hat-trick in the 64-0 pool stage victory over United States.
However, the Toulon man failed to score in the quarter-final victory over Wales and the agonising semi-final defeat to New Zealand to leave his hopes of taking the record out right in the balance.
Habana had one last chance in the third-place play-off against Argentina on Friday, but it was not meant to be as he saw a series of half chances go begging in South Africa's 24-13 win.
"There's no real emotion. I was pretty disappointed in the way I played. Unfortunately I didn't play my greatest game ever wearing a Springbok jersey so it might be one I want to forget," he said.
"I'm incredibly proud of the character, commitment and tenacity this team have shown over the last six weeks. I would have preferred to be playing in a final.
"It [trying to break Lomu's record] definitely wasn't for lack of trying. Opportunities come and sometimes things don't happen for a reason. I have a lot of respect for Jonah and maybe rightly that his record stays around for a little bit longer.
"Someone like [Australia winger] Drew Mitchell has got an opportunity maybe to score two tries [in the final] and break the record. I definitely tried but it just wasn't meant to be so."
Habana, now 32, is yet to decide on his immediate Springboks future but says there is no chance of him coming back for another crack at the record in Japan in 2019.
"I definitely won't be at 2019. I will take some time off now and decide where I am as a player," he added.
"I am still feeling very good. I have got club commitments coming up in two weeks' time and have to get back to Toulon and put in some hard work there.
"I'm really proud of the last 12 years, the highs and the lows, it has been an unbelievable journey. I'm not too sure it's the end yet.
"I have a lot of time to sit back, relax and assess where I am. Where I am as a person, where I am as a player and maybe sit back and write a few more goals for the next few years."