Springbok centurion Bryan Habana is South Africa’s all-time leading try-scorer, but Herschel Jantjies undoubtedly made a faster start to his Test career, according to SARugbymag.co.za readers.
Jantjies scored two tries and was instrumental in the build up to Lood de Jager’s touchdown in the Boks’ 35-17 drubbing of Australia in their 2019 Rugby Championship opener – a competition South Africa won before being crowned world champions later that year.
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Based on this feat, the scrumhalf claimed a resounding, some may say surprising, 86% of the vote in a poll to determine how his debut stacked up against the illustrious career of Bryan Habana.
Habana received a mere 14% of the vote for his exploits on Bok debut. At Twickenham in 2004, the former Springbok winger made his bow off the bench in a 32-16 loss against England, reigning world champions at the time.
2004 was a year of rebuild in South African rugby as Jake White was appointed Bok coach following the Springboks’ failed 2003 RWC campaign. Travelling north for the end-of-year tour after winning their first Tri-Nations trophy in six years, the Boks’ loss against England was one of only four defeats suffered in 13 Tests played in 2004.
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A disappointing loss for the Boks did however have a silver lining as the introduction of Habana to the international arena proved to be the start of a storied career of one of South Africa’s all-time greats.
CLICK HERE to see who Jantjies faces next week in Best Bok Debut.