RWC #26: Takudzwa Ngwenya smokes Bryan Habana

The 2007 World Cup was undoubtedly the tournament where Bryan Habana cemented his status as the best winger in world rugby.

However, it was also the tournament which saw him lose his crown as the sport’s fastest man.

Pool A was proving a cakewalk for South Africa, with Samoa and England swatted aside and Tonga the only side to offer serious resistance to the champions elect.

Habana was four tries deep heading into the final pool game against the USA, where he would help himself to two more, but the game wouldn't be remembered for his brace but for a rare score under South Africa's own posts.

The Springboks were 24-3 up approaching half time and camped on the USA line when an interception gave the Eagles a chance to clear.

Instead of hoofing it they ran with the ball and it came to outhalf Mike Hercus in midfield, who drifted a brilliant left hand pass to Takudzwa Ngwenya on the halfway line with room to gas in front of him.

Zimbabwean born Ngwenya, an amateur at the time who had clocked 10.5 seconds in the 100m, had one man to beat - Habana.

Ngwenya straightened his line before stepping and burning down the outside, leaving Habana for dead in a manner similar to the cheetah he had raced earlier in the year and crossing the line for the IRB try of the year.

This wasn’t the first time Ngwenya had embarrassed more heralded opposition in the tournament - he’d already left Alesana Tuilagi in a heap earlier in the pool - and his two moments of magic earned him a deal at Biarritz, where he still plays today.