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PARIS - South Africa have been one of the few teams to throw the ball around at the World Cup and with wingers like Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen its small wonder as they have wreaked havoc.
However, their 12 tries in the six matches so far will count for little if they fall short of lifting the Webb Ellis trophy here on Saturday against England.
It may not say much about how the sport in the country has evolved since the end of apartheid but there are the only two coloureds in the starting XV - just one more than their winning predecessors from 1995 who had another flying winger in Chester Williams.
Habana has stamped his mark on the World Cup in no uncertain terms and one more try on Saturday would give him sole ownership of the record for most tries in a World Cup, as he has drawn level with Jonah Lomu's tally of eight in the 1999 finals.
The Bulls speedster has many attributes, though, even with his speed he could not cope with racing against a cheetah.
That, though, will be the least of England's problems on Saturday as while he did not score against them in their previous World Cup meeting in the pool stage (the 36-0 record World Cup defeat for the titleholders) he has appeared to improve with every game.
His is not simply a case of catching the ball and running with it, he also has a great eye for seizing the opportunity and chipping behind the opposing player, collecting it and scoring in spectacular style.
While coach Jake White has been slightly lukewarm in his comments about Habana that has not stopped England's high and mighty from praising the 24-year-old.
"I think he's been fantastic. He has done an enormous amount for rugby as a whole, for the development and growth of the sport, for the way rugby should be played," commented England's fly-half Jonny Wilkinson.
"The way he applies himself on the field in terms of his demeanour and his respect levels, his values and his integrity, they are all doing wonderful things for the game.
"I think his ability to continue to do this against the world's best opposition, as we've seen in the Tri-Nations and against fantastic teams he deserves the praise he's getting.
"The good thing is that he seems to be continuing to get better and it can only be a bright future for the game if he continues."
However, England would do well not to focus solely on Habana or they could be made to pay a high price by Pietersen, who scored two of the tries in their earlier match.
Pietersen is a very different type of winger to Habana, less bulky - which is surprising given he was once a lock - and more slippery, sometimes seemingly, capable like a snake of escaping the toughest of grips.
For White, Pietersen was one of his young lions who was capable of making a name for themselves here and thusfar he has done nothing to prove him wrong, though, he is as disarming as he is on the pitch.
"He's (Habana) been nominated for IRB player of the year. I am still in the beginning stages of rugby. I'm just learning day by day," admitted Pietersen.
"What happens on the field happens quickly. I'm happy if the ball comes my way but sometimes it goes Bryan's way.
"As for being a role model, I am still a youngster. I think the senior guys are role models. If I am, I'm happy but I don't think so."
Another try on Saturday and Pietersen and Habana may have no choice but to be role models for the 40million black and coloured South Africans.
- AFP
