Rassie Erasmus stated that the secret advantage of Damian de Allende, a player for the Springboks, lies not only in brute strength but also in his deep understanding of the game. According to Erasmus, this quality has made the central player one of the most valuable figures of his generation in the Springboks.
The Biggest Rivalry in Rugby
De Allende will become the tenth Springboks player to reach 100 test matches when he plays against the All Blacks at Ellis Park stadium on Saturday. This achievement drew high praise from coach Rassie Erasmus and fullback Damian Willemse.
Erasmus first encountered De Allende when he was serving as the rugby director for the Stormers team, and the young centre began to show himself in Super Rugby. Erasmus recalls: 'From a coaching perspective, when I first saw him, I didn't know him well. But when he started playing in Super Rugby against players like Sonny Bill Williams, Damian showed me his class.'
The coach noted that De Allende was one of the few who could handle Sonny Bill Williams, highlighting his skills in attack, defense, and ball delivery on the move, adding that he is a very physically developed player.
Erasmus also shared an interesting moment in their relationship: 'We had an interesting clash once,' he said with a smile. 'He is a very tough guy. He doesn't back down for people. But at the same time, he is a very reserved and quiet person.'
Willemse, playing alongside De Allende in the Springboks squad, highly values this combination of resilience and self-control. He noted: 'He has real character. As the coach said, he is very reserved. But he knows how to motivate the team. He never accepts praise.'
Willemse also mentioned that De Allende served as vice-captain and took on important roles in major matches, which was noted by the coach.
Erasmus believes that De Allende's true strength is less obvious than his physical condition, which has become his calling card. He explained: 'People think his skill is his physical fitness. But in reality, it is his game understanding, as well as his ability to pass and know when to get involved in the game.'
A player's leadership qualities often go unnoticed. Erasmus added that De Allende has repeatedly acted as vice-captain, something few people know because he rarely speaks on the field.
For Willemse, De Allende's exceptional reliability is also important. He stated: 'He is always ready to train, to play. I am not sure when the last time he missed a match in the test tournament or even training.'
Respect for the player extends beyond the field. Willemse expressed pride in him, mentioning that his hometown of Milnerton will be proud of him. He also noted De Allende's positive development as a person outside of sports: 'He is now a father and a family man. So yes, we are all very proud of Damian, and obviously, we will go to make him proud. It is a special case, and his path to 100 matches has been exceptional.'