Soon after Bryan Habana had scored his second try for South Africa in their 37-13 semi-final victory over Argentina, television cameras picked out Jonah Lomu in the stands at the Stade de France. As the former New Zealand wing appeared on the giant screen, he waved self-consciously and smiled. Both No 11s, the Big Fella had just seen the Little Fella draw level with his record for the number of individual tries at one World Cup – eight – and yesterday he said he could not have been happier.

“Records are made to be broken and for Bryan to have equalled mine is superb,” Lomu said. “If he breaks it on the weekend then good on him. He has been one of the shining stars at the World Cup.”

The World Cup’s first superstar was watching the emergence of the latest – with due deference to Jonny Wilkinson – a player who, as Lomu did in his heyday, thrills, excites and captivates. The mantle, it would appear, is in good hands.

Habana, who has some way to go to match the New Zealander’s all-time World Cup landmark of 15, is a figure who, with his skill, refreshing innocence and enjoyment of the game, has the ability to inspire and attract the next generation to the sport, transcending in the process racial and national boundaries.

Both players have boosted their world presence as a result of an impressive World Cup, Lomu in 1995 and Habana here, reaching a wider audience who tune in only to leading events. Lomu mesmerised England in a semi-final, Habana hopes to do likewise in the final on Saturday.

The collective reaction to his feats in France has been one of amazement at the speed of the Blue Bulls wing, who in April raced a cheetah for charity (he lost). Physically, Habana and Lomu could not be more dissimilar. The end result, though, of giving either half a chance was and is often the same: five points. Lomu achieved this with a mixture of speed, power and balance. He made his own tries; Habana is more an electric, clinical finisher.

“What can you say? He is a fantastic player. Give him an opportunity and nine times out of ten he will take it,” Lomu said. “That is the calibre of the player. He is exciting. He is bringing life to the game. He is a talented man. He has earned every try that he has made, especially last night. I had to stand up and clap because he has done wonders at this World Cup. It is the shop window for rugby and the biggest stage and if you perform on the biggest stage you will get noticed.”

The world cottoned on to Lomu 12 years ago, when he was propelled into an orbit he was ill-prepared for. Habana could follow the same trajectory, but at 24 is four years older than Lomu was and perhaps a little wiser. Lomu blazed a trail, Habana is following it. “It is all in front of him and if South Africa win the World Cup, then [who knows],” Lomu said.

After his experiences, does Lomu have advice for Habana? “He just needs to make sure that he does his job well and concentrates on being a rugby player and not get distracted,” he said. “If he takes care of himself on the field the rest will take care of itself off it. He seems to have good people around him.”

Habana’s is not the story of an impoverished childhood with rugby his escape route from the townships. Born in Johannesburg, he was educated at a private school. Bernie, his father and manager, is a wealthy businessman who built his own home-improvement company and whose passion for rugby dates back to the apartheid days.

Habana’s strike-rate at international level since making his debut against England in 2004 is phenomenal – 30 tries in 34 appearances. This month he has been nominated for the second time for the IRB’s player-of-the-year award and should walk away with it. His late, winning try in this year’s Currie Cup final against the Sharks is talked about in reverential tones.

“It’s always a privilege to play with a guy like him,” Danie Rossouw, the South Africa No 8 said. “It’s unbelievable when there is nothing on and he just takes the ball and just makes magic.”

From Old Trafford to the Highveld

— Bryan Gary Habana was born in June 1983 and named after Bryan Robson and Gary Bailey. Bernie, his father, is a keen Manchester United fan and a passionate Springboks supporter.

— Habana’s early sporting interests at school were football, cricket and athletics. He played outside centre and scrum half in provincial and age-group rugby but blossomed when switched to the wing.

— In April he raced a cheetah to raise awareness of the threat to the fastest animal on earth. Habana had a 30-metre start but came a comfortable second. The cheetah was kept on the straight and narrow by chasing an 8lb slab of lamb being towed by a truck.

— Habana weighs 14 stone and is 5ft 11in but can bench-press 25 stone. He specialises in long-range interception tries.

— His eight tries at the World Cup include four against Samoa and two each against the United States and Argentina. He was, though, embarrassed by Takudzwa Ngwenya, the US wing, who beat him on the outside for a memorable try in their pool game.