Bryan Habana may have gone over for a record-equalling 15th Rugby World Cup try on Wednesday afternoon, but he doesn’t believe he is worthy of comparison to the man who shares the accolade – Jonah Lomu.

Springboks flyer Habana needed three tries against the USA to draw level with Lomu’s record – set between 1995 and 1999 – and that’s exactly what he did in 21 second-half minutes in the 64-0 thrashing.

But the Toulon wing believes the comparisons with the All Black great end at the try record, claiming the Kiwi changed the game in his 63 Tests.

“It’s unbelievably humbling.” Habana said post-match. “I said in 2007, I don’t think I can ever be compared to Jonah. The way he changed the game, you know he was a class act.

“He did it in two tournaments; it’s taken me three. He became the first global superstar the game ever produced and I have an unbelievable amount of respect for him.”

Lomu burst onto the scene at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, dotting down seven times, including a remarkable four-try performance against England in the semi-final.

In 1999, he crossed the whitewash another eight times – a World Cup record later equalled by Habana in 2007. While Lomu’s career was prematurely ended by a kidney disorder just before the 2003 World Cup, Habana has returned to his third tournament, where he has scored five times so far.

“For me he is an inspiration,” Habana added of Lomu. “In 1995 for me in that World Cup to see a guy like Jonah Lomu demolish England, he went on to become a global superstar. I will never forget. I was there targeting signatures.”