Damian de Allende has called for the Springboks to muster a big performance in the final Test of the season against England at Twickenham after a “challenging” year. DYLAN JACK reports.
The Springboks will take on England on Saturday in a repeat of the 2019 World Cup final.
After a long season of seemingly endless bio-bubbles for the Boks, the match is an opportunity to clinch a first win at Twickenham since 2014 and end the season with an unbeaten tour.
Bok centre De Allende was asked about what a win over England would mean in the context of the entire season, during which the team also claimed a series win over the British & Irish Lions and a victory over the All Blacks in Australia.
“When we got together in that first week for the Lions series – obviously we played Georgia in one Test and then there was a Covid outbreak – we hadn’t seen each other for so long after the World Cup,” De Allende said. “That first week was incredible and I haven’t seen the guys that excited. We celebrated after winning the World Cup and that was the last time we were together.
“It was a bit dampening for all of us when the Covid outbreak [during the Lions series] happened. We were separated for about two weeks basically and it wasn’t ideal. We only started training as a full squad on the Monday before the first Test.
“It has been a challenging year. We have been in a bubble during the Lions series and then going to Australia, which was quite tough for all of us mentally. I think as a squad we got through that nicely. We won that last game on tour [against New Zealand] before we headed home again.
“It’s been incredible being with the guys, even though we are in a bit of a bubble again. It is one more big push this weekend. We want to end the tour on a high because we won’t see each other for seven months afterwards. As a squad we can sit down together on Saturday night and have a nice beer together and look back on the year that has passed and smile about it and cherish those memories we have made.”
De Allende will continue his midfield partnership with Lukhanyo Am on Saturday, with the pair having started 10 Tests together this year.
“We have got a very strong relationship. It helps that we get along so well off the field as well. We know that every game has its own unique challenges, but we are very composed on the field. Especially Lukhanyo, we chat a lot on the field and just try to stay in the moment.
“Even though sometimes it feels that we aren’t in the game, we always talk to each other and stay ready for the next moment that comes. Once we have that opportunity, we try to grab it with both hands, whether that’s a big tackle or making a steal at the breakdown. For the two of us, we just try to stay in the moment and stay prepared for the next opportunity that comes our way.”
Photo: Getty Images
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