Bryan Habana: Tommy Bowe is Europe's best winger

Monday 8 March 2010
Published By: Amy Nicholson
Six Nations > Ireland

South African try machine Bryan Habana has singled out the man he feels is the finest winger in the northern hemisphere - Tommy Bowe.

According to Habana, Bowe has truly come to the fore since playing a part in Ireland's Grand Slam last year and will go from strength to strength as he gains even more experience on the international stage.

Habana said he is also a big fan of Shane Williams, whose try-scoring record is among the most impressive in the history of the international game, but the South African thinks it will be Bowe who comes out on top when Wales and Ireland meet in the Six Nations this weekend.

"I played against Tommy three times last year and there is no doubt whatsoever that he is a fantastic player. Yet he is still only just 26 and clearly has a huge career ahead of him," said Habana.

The South African revealed that he watches the Six Nations with keen interest, something which may come in handy considering his country will make the trip to the Millennium Stadium for a friendly later this year.

As for this weekend, Habana thinks that the face-off between the two Ospreys players will be one of the key clashes in the Six Nations fourth round.

Williams succeeded Habana as IRB world player of the year in 2008 and the South African said that the performance against France illustrated that the Welsh wonder still has plenty left in the tank.

"Shane will be around for another couple of years and he has a number of scintillating tries left in him. He does not know how much longer he is going to be involved in the game for and wants to do something special," he said.

However, with the Triple Crown on the line and home advantage, he thinks that Bowe will prove why he is the best wing in the northern hemisphere this Saturday.

Posted by Amy Nicholson