No denying Habana is No1 target

By Peter Bills

Sometimes, just occasionally, people open their mouths and say more by saying less. Take my recent story of the big financial offer made to Springbok wing Bryan Habana by French club Bayonne.

Denials were rushed out, both by Habana's father and someone called the "Bulls Business & Communications Manager". Only trouble was, did Bryan Habana or his father actually deny that the offer had been made?

That would have been surprising and might have called into question the good name of Bayonne rugby club. After all, the story had been confirmed by officials not just in France but at the Bulls. Anonymously, of course. People like to keep their jobs.

But you must read the carefully chosen words of the deniers. When you do, are they not answering points that were never raised in the first case and also highlighting specific areas that could be denied fulsomely without at all challenging the basic tenet of the story?

Isn't it an old routine, one increasingly used by people in sport? Listen to Bryan Habana's Dad on the Bayonne story.

"We have never seen a contract and I have no idea where they come up with those figures," Bernie Habana is reported to have said.

"I have no idea where the latest Peter Bills article comes from and we have never granted him an interview."

All 100 percent true, except for one thing. I've interviewed Bryan Habana countless times. He's a super young man, a credit to his country. He has manners and is friendly and courteous. But the quotes?

"We have never seen a contract"

True, one hasn't been issued.

"I have no idea where they come up with those figures..."

True, you'd have to work for Bayonne to know the inner workings of their finances.

It was also reported that Habana senior rubbished reports that his son's decision may depend upon the decision of new Springbok coach Peter de Villiers regarding the national team's captaincy.

"I can state categorically that Bryan supports the appointment of Peter as Springbok coach," Habana senior said.

I am 100 percent sure that is true, too. I never suggested otherwise.

But where in all of this is the original story actually denied?

The fact is, Bryan Habana is going to get a hell of a lot of lucrative contract offers in the next 12 months. He's the No1 target for many teams worldwide.