Speed merchant set to test his pace

Why was England's latest World Cup wing ruminating on the merits of trying to outpace one of nature's fastest animals?

Well, Bryan Habana, the South African try-scoring wing sensation, raced against a cheetah for charity in April and the outcome was in some doubt until four legs eventually proved faster than two.

Habana's pace brought him four tries in two matches against England in the summer and the 24-year-old collected another quartet in the Springboks' opening World Cup win over Samoa. Next up for Habana is England, in Paris on Friday night, and it will be Sackey's job to fight lightening speed with lightening speed.

As a teenager he was clocked at 10.7sec for the 100metres but ask him if he is now quicker and a wry smile breaks over the London Wasps wing's face, before the reply: "Maybe, yes, I probably am."

One of the few players to have scored 50 career tries in the Guinness Premiership, Sackey has the speed to match even Habana and has been inspired by the South African's form at this tournament.

Now, Sackey wants a piece of the action and said: "This is the biggest game of my career and I am really excited about getting out there and playing. I watched the game between South Africa and Samoa, and Habana was awesome. All I am worried about, though, is playing the best I can.

"He is one of their danger men and a major threat because he has fantastic balance, as we saw in that match when he appeared to be going to ground after a tackle and suddenly bounced back up and was away under the posts - that was unbelievable.

"I would like to come up against him because he has great speed, awareness and footwork and it does inspire me. I was thinking during that South Africa game 'if only I had a chance to get our there and show people what I can do'. Now I have that chance on Friday."

Thanks to his incredible pace, Sackey came close to a career in football, having had trials as a teenager at Crystal Palace, Reading and Aston Villa.

But it was in rugby where he made his mark. While at the Wasps Academy, Sackey was spotted by Andy Gomarsall - now the Harlequins scrum-half and a member of the World Cup squad.

It was Gomarsall who crucially introduced Sackey to a person who was to have a key role in his development, Margot Wells.

Although Sackey's own speed is a product of natural ability, it has been given added impetus by specialist coach Wells, wife of Allan, the 1980 Olympic gold medal winning 100m runner.

Wells's regimes have found favour with many rugby players and her ability to maintain speed while increasing muscle power is one of the reasons the Wasps wing has made it into the Test arena.

The London club's coaches have improved Sackey's all-round game and his reward was a first cap against New Zealand last November. Friday's titanic clash with South Africa will be his fifth Test appearance.

The 27-year-old said; "I have worked on my defence at Wasps because it was an area I needed to look at. If we play well and create a few chances then, hopefully, I can show people what I can do.

"There is a bit of pressure on me and I have to focus on what I can do and I believe I have the ability to cause the South Africans a few problems.

"If we play to our pattern and stick to the plan then, hopefully, I will get a chance to score some tries and it's all about getting the ball into the right places as a team.

"Our balance in games hasn't been there in recent performances, when we have used our forwards too much.

"We have put that right in training and now it's a case of getting it right during the match."

So, how does he fancy taking on a four legged beast to test his speed?

"With Cheetahs being a bit thin on the ground in London, Margot only has me running against the clock!" said Sackey.

"We will have to see how I go against Habana on Friday. I was working with Margot at Guildford almost every day until the rugby training kicked in at Wasps.

"Then it was twice a week and she is just brilliant and covers everything from track work to weights.

"The good thing about Habana is that I am not marking him on Friday night - Josh [Lewsey] is!"