You have to respect opposition

Bryan Habana insists defending champions Toulon cannot afford to be complacent going into Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Munster in Marseille, despite their home advantage and red-hot favouritism.

Such is the depth of talent available to the big-spending French league leaders South African World Cup winner and former IRB world player of the year Habana was an unused substitute in the European quarter-final win over Leinster earlier this month and is not guaranteed a starting place having missed last weekend’s Top14 win over Perpignan in Barcelona due to injury.

Yet the 30-year-old Springbok wing, capped 95 times, is taking nothing for granted as in-form Toulon chase an historic first domestic and European double while he bids to add a Heineken Cup to his Super Rugby honours with the Bulls.