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BAGSHOT. — Bryan Habana believes the fact South Africa have been effectively playing knock-out rugby for most of the World Cup, will stand them in good stead when they face Wales in the quarter-finals at Twickenham on Saturday.

Two-time world champions South Africa suffered a stunning 34-32 defeat by Japan in their opening group match — one of the all-time great sporting upsets — but bounced back with three straight wins, including last week’s 64-0 thrashing of the United States, to finish top of Pool B.

“To be brutally honest, after that Japan loss every game has been a play-off for us,” Springbok great Habana told reporters on Monday.

“It’s been a tournament of quite a few highs and lows for us, but when we get to Saturday each and every team will be on zero,” the 32-year-old wing, a World Cup-winner in 2007, added in Bagshot, where the Springboks have taken over England’s Pennyhill Park training base after the hosts’ first-round exit.

“It’s the knockout stage of the competition where if you lose now, you go home within 24 hours.”

Wales, who have only beaten the Springboks twice, won the teams’ most recent encounter 12-6 in Cardiff last year.

But Habana, now with France-based European champions Toulon, was one of several Springboks set to play this weekend who missed that match because it took place outside World Rugby’s international ‘window’ and they were not released by their clubs. An injury-hit Wales lost 15-6 to Australia last weekend, although both sides had already qualified for the quarter-finals.

“We have much respect for what Wales have achieved with a lot of injuries,” said Habana. “We all know Saturday is going to be a tough one.”

One more try for Habana on Saturday will see him surpass New Zealand star Jonah Lomu’s World Cup record of 15 in what will be the South African star’s 115th Test.

Habana, who equalled the mark last time out with a hat-trick against the United States, said topping Lomu’s World Cup tally would not change his opinion of the All Blacks flyer, has battled a long-standing kidney illness.

No side has ever won the World Cup after losing a pool game, but Habana said while the current Springboks may lack the “smooth run-in” of the 2007 team they could still lift the Webb Ellis trophy. — AFP.