The old cliche of form and class emerged quickly at the rugby World Cup this week.
The Boks, it was said, believe the latter to be permanent, which was why Bryan Habana was always a shoo-in for the team.
The All Blacks took a different view on Joe Rokocoko, who is the same age as the Springbok: 28.
Neither of the two wings has been in great try-scoring form. Habana has failed to recapture his dazzling try-scoring of the last World Cup.
It has been 10 tests and 15 months since Habana last scored a try for the Boks, leaving him marooned on 38 scores.
Rokocoko, however, is out. He scored 24 tries in his first 16 tests.
Habana bagged 15 in his first 14. Up to and including the 2007 World Cup final, Habana had 30 in 24 tests.
Rokocoko scored just three tries in his next 20 tests. Habana has scored just eight tries in 35 tests since the 2007 World Cup.
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