De Allende the dynamite for mighty Munster

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Munster’s prospects in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship playoffs are hitched to powerhouse Springbok centre Damian de Allende.

A chest complaint meant De Allende missed the 35-25 defeat at Leinster in the league’s final round, a result that dropped Munster to sixth place in the final standings and lined them up for a quarter-final against Ulster in Belfast on Friday.

This season, De Allende scored a try in three of five starts in the league, a try count bettered only by five other players at the Irish province despite the mighty midfielder appearing in just seven matches.

Aside from the player himself, none will be more disappointed with De Allende’s injury interrupted campaign than coach Johann van Graan.

The former Springbok assistant coach has at times during his final season at the province been criticised for Munster’s conservative style of play. Van Graan clearly favours the brand of simple and effective rugby used by world champions South Africa, but his plan pivots on mainstays that have been unavailable.

Munster icon CJ Stander, who had come through the Vodacom Bulls ranks during Van Graan’s time at Loftus Versfeld, retired at the end of last season after 156 matches for the Irish province. A three-time winner of Munster’s Player of the Year award, Stander added grunt to the pack and horsepower in the race for momentum.

Breakout Bulls lock RG Snyman joined Munster in 2020 and promised to fire up the tight five, but the towering 2019 Rugby World Cup champion has been a fixture of the injury report ever since.

And De Allende’s farewell season in Munster has also been disrupted as the Bok No 12 was sidelined for two months with an abdominal injury earlier this year.

One of the game’s most commanding midfielders, De Allende is a big cog in Van Graan’s plan to go out with a bang. He was equally as imperative a component in the success of South Africa against the British & Irish Lions last year, his sturdy legs consistently propelling him through contact to keep the world champions going forward.

Going into the quarter-final against Ulster, De Allende, Van Graan and Munster will have perfectly aligned goals. A third successive win against their Irish rivals would fortify Munster’s standing and create the opportunity to avenge their agonising Champions Cup quarter-final when they lost on a penalty shootout to Toulouse after the sides were level 24 all after 100 minutes.

For De Allende, bossing the midfield in the URC playoffs would make for a heroic send-off from Munster and redeem his world-class reputation as South Africa prepare to begin their final approach to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

ROAD TO THE PLAYOFFS: MUNSTER (6TH)

SEASON SNAPSHOT
Munster this season beat four of the seven other teams to finish in the Final Eight and yet they travel to Belfast for the URC quarter-final against Ulster.

A glance at the highlights of Munster’s season leaves Limerick locals wondering why Thomond Park is not the venue for the primetime match in Ireland on Friday night.

Munster popped the cork on the inaugural URC season with commanding home wins over the Cell C Sharks (finished 5th) and DHL Stormers (2nd), Edinburgh (7th) and they completed the double against Irish rivals Ulster (3rd) in round 16.

Though they were twice beaten by log-leaders Leinster, Munster came within three points of winning in Glasgow (8th) and six of beating the Bulls (4th) at Loftus Versfeld.

Unfortunately for coach Johann van Graan, Munster’s penchant for beating the ‘big boys’ at Thomond Park was matched by an equal propensity for getting lost on the road against teams tucked into the lower half of the table. Munster lacked direction in losses at Ospreys (9th), Connacht (11th) and the Emirates Lions (12th).

With Van Graan soon to bow out, Munster will be determined to right the wrongs of squandered opportunities by winning in Belfast for the second time this season to complete a three-peat against Ulster.

STAR PERFORMER
Simon Zebo tied the team lead for tries with seven scored in 10 matches for Munster this season, including a hat-trick against Edinburgh. A great achievement from the 35-capped Ireland wing that was outdone only by loose forward Jack O’Donoghue, who in January became the youngest player in Munster history to make 150 appearances for the Irish province.

O’Donoghue (28) also scored seven tries and showcased his versatility by ranking among Munster’s top three in a variety of statistics including tackles, carries and offloads, and made the most passes among the forwards.

DECISIVE WIN
One week after hosting and beating Exeter Chiefs in the Champions Cup round of 16, Munster marched on Kingspan Stadium to battle Ulster.

Springbok centre Damian de Allende was prominent as the visitors took control of the game. Veterans Stephen Archer and Keith Earls scoring tries for a 15-3 half-time advantage and flyhalf Joey Carbery kicking three penalties in the second stanza for a 24-17 win that promoted Munster into second place with two rounds remaining.

NEXT:
Quarter-final 3 vs Ulster at Kingspan Stadium, Belfast (3 June)

Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images

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Zelim Nel