De Allende taking it one year at a time
Seeking improvement is what drives the Bok centre, and the Wild Knights provide ideal learning platform
● Damian de Allende’s appetite to play for the Springboks is as voracious as ever, but he is careful not to bite off more than he can chew.
De Allende, who turns 33 in November, is part of a dozen or so incumbent Springboks who will be 36 or older when the next Rugby World Cup swings by in 2027.
“If you have a big group of 36-year-olds it can be quite tough,” the hulking centre acknowledged. He says he is happy to serve the Boks if he is “mentally fine, still enjoying the game, putting in the effort and getting better”.
He added: “I still think I have a good shot. If I’m not, at least I made my contribution. As long as I am there I’ll help the next centre come through. I’ll take it year by year and see how my body holds up.”
Seeking improvement is what drives De Allende, and on that score the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights under the tutelage of former Wallabies and Crusaders coach Robbie Deans is providing the ideal learning platform. The Wild Knights have been rampant in the Japan Rugby League One going into this weekend’s fixture against Toyota Verblitz on the back of a 13-match unbeaten run this season.
Does the league, the club’s training methods and rest and recovery regime help energise Springboks on the wrong side of 30?
“Definitely! I came back here in 2019 after we won the Rugby World Cup and, after the celebrations, I had put on a kilo or two. I could feel I’m off the pace. The Japan Rugby League One hasn’t just helped me physically but mentally too. I still feel I’m learning a lot. We have great coaches and I feel they made me a better player in the space of six months.”
As luck would have it, De Allende is at a club where new Springbok attack coach Tony Brown left an indelible mark. Brown is still on the club’s payroll and occasionally pops by as De Allende recently discovered.
“I actually met up with him just after he was appointed to the Bok coaching team. It was nice to have a quick chat with him and meet him properly. He will bring some of his great knowledge to the Springboks and develop our attack. I’m looking forward to that different dynamic that he will bring.”
Oblivious to record
De Allende has much to look forward to in Bok colours later in 2024. Whether he partners with Lukhanyo Am or Jesse Kriel, he is just one cap short of Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie’s record for a centre combination. Remarkably De Allende has played in 28 Tests with Am and Kriel and may have the opportunity to eclipse the record in the much anticipated series against Ireland.
“I haven’t thought about it,” he says about the record. “I’d like to pitch up on a Saturday whether I’m playing with Lukie (Am), Jesse or Andre (Esterhuizen).”
He believes very little separates Am and Kriel. “They are similar. I think they are tied as the best in the world for defensive reads, tackles and work rate. They have great skill sets. Maybe Lukhanyo’s distribution skills are a little bit better but that’s me nitpicking now. Jesse can kick off both feet.”
The series against Ireland is gearing up to be a blockbuster De Allende says it is disappointing the series is not decided over three Tests. “It would have made it a lot more interesting,” he says before adding it will be an incredible series against players he played with and against in his time at Munster.
“They obviously played some great rugby again in the Six Nations,” he says about Ireland. “They won it back to back but England showed they are beatable. I’m sure the Springbok coaches are making plans around how we can expose them.”
De Allende says his Bok teammates are desperate to be part of the action against Ireland. “We’ve lost the last few games against them, all outside South Africa. I think a lot of guys will be keen to play against them given what happened at the RWC and in Dublin in 2022. Everyone’s excited.”
I still think I have a good shot. If I’m not, at least I made my contribution. As long as I am there I’ll help the next centre come through. I’ll take it year by year and see how my body holds up Damian de Allende Springboks and Saitama Wild Knights centre