TEST CENTURION: How De Allende’s warrior spirit has fuelled Boks’ rise and ongoing success

Damian de Allende will become the 10th Springbok to play 100 Tests when he starts at No 12 against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday – and the stats show why he’s been Rassie Erasmus’ go-to man during South Africa’s golden era.

Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber were forced to rebuild the South African rugby system after returning to the country in 2018, and in the early days of what would later be known as the golden era, a core group of players was tasked with restoring pride in the Springbok jersey.

More than eight years have passed, and the Boks have won many trophies and titles in the interim.

Many of the warriors who spearheaded the turnaround in 2018 are still in tow, and one of the most influential players of this generation will win his 100th Test cap against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Damian de Allende has had his detractors since making his debut in 2014.

But under Erasmus he’s developed into one of Test rugby’s most complete inside centres, and has received high praise from legends such as Jean de Villiers and Victor Matfield, as well as Jordie Barrett, who will line up for the All Blacks at No 12 this Saturday.

When the going gets tough, De Allende gets going. Who could forget the powerful leg drive that culminated in a game-changing try against Ireland in Johannesburg in 2016, at a time when the match and the three-Test series were slipping away from South Africa?

De Allende has carried the Boks over the line – quite literally – at the past two World Cups, fighting his way past several Welshmen to score in the 2019 semifinal in Yokohama, and then bulldozing the French in the 2023 quarterfinal staged in Paris.

And yet, the 1.89m, 106kg centre is far more than just a gainline monster. Since playing for Munster in Ireland and more recently for the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan, De Allende has developed his attacking and kicking skills.

And since working with attack guru Tony Brown at the Boks from 2024 onwards, he’s taken his game to the next level. Erasmus may feel vindicated when De Allende walks out ahead of the team at Ellis Park on Saturday and receives the respect and adulation he is due.

On Thursday, Erasmus recalled how a young De Allende combated All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams in the early days of his career.

“At that stage, very few guys could handle Sonny Bill, who brought so many threats to the defence with his physicality and offloading game,” said the Bok coach. “But Damian never took a step back.”

Damian Willemse, who attended the team announcement press conference in Johannesburg alongside his head coach, was quick to praise De Allende for his contributions over the years.

“He’s one of those guys who never misses a training session and always seems to be in the mix when we play the big games,” Willemse said.