Habana has inside track on Munster’s South African trio

Bryan Habana will be giving his Toulon team-mates the inside track on Munster’s South African contingent, having played with BJ Botha, CJ Stander and Gerhard van den Heever.

Habana could face his compatriots in Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final and has a first-hand working knowledge of each one of them.

“I’ve played quite a few Tests with BJ,” Habana, 30, said. “He’s a great man, one of the most powerful scrummagers in world rugby and a guy who works unbelievably hard on the field.

“Guys like CJ and Gerhard were youngsters when I was finishing at the Bulls, and I think Gerhard went on to win two Super Rugby titles with the Bulls.

“CJ put his hand up as a youngster within South Africa. So we know them.

“It’s going to be a great challenge playing against a couple of South Africans this weekend and guys like CJ Stander, who’s really put his hand up over the last couple of weeks, has made a huge impact. BJ has played his part as well and Gerhard has come over there after the Currie Cup with Western Province and really shown the talent he portrayed as a youngster.”

Habana backed Stander’s decision to throw in his lot with Ireland rather than push for a Springboks’ Test jersey and he said the 24-year-old would be an asset to the Irish when he qualifies through residency at the end of his third year at the province in November 2015.

“CJ has used the opportunity to come overseas, take off from where he left off as youngster in South Africa, he has really done well.

“It will be a loss but whatever the loss to South Africa it will be to Ireland’s gain.”