Road to the RWC | Springbok player profile: Damian de Allende
As part of our build-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, we continue to profile each player in the Springboks’ squad. Next up: Damian de Allende.
As was the case four years ago, Damian de Allende remains the incumbent inside centre in the Springboks’ World Cup squad as they prepare to head to France.
De Allende faces some strong competition from Andre Esterhuizen, but there is little doubt that his experience in the No 12 jersey will be incredibly valuable, and below we highlight some key information about the 25-year-old in our ongoing player profile series.
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PROFILE: DAMIAN DE ALLENDE
Name: Damian de Allende
Born: 25 November 1991, Cape Town
School: Milnerton
Major teams: Springboks, South Africa A, Stormers, Western Province, Munster, Wild Knights
Position: Centre
Height: 6-foot-3
Test debut: South Africa v Argentina in Pretoria, 16 August 2014
Springbok no.: 862
Tests played: 73
Tries scored: 10
Current club team: Wild Knights
All information correct as at 24 August 2023
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SPRINGBOKS’ 2023 FIXTURES:
RWC warm-up fixtures:
Saturday, 19 August – Boks vs Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff), 4:15pm
Friday, 25 August – Boks vs New Zealand (Twickenham, London), 8.30pm
ALSO READ | Springboks squad explained: 4 scrumhalves, 2 hookers, 2 flyhalves
RWC FIXTURES:
Sunday, 10 September – Boks v Scotland (Stade Velodrome, Marseille), 5:45pm
Sunday, 17 September – Boks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux), 3pm
Saturday, 23 September – Boks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris), 9pm
Sunday, 1 October – Boks v Tonga (Stade Velodrome, Marseille), 9pm
Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarter-finals
Weekend of 21/22 October – Semi-finals
Saturday, 28 October – Final
WATCH: Faf de Klerk CAN and WILL play flyhalf
World Cup squad
Props: Steven Kitshoff (Ulster – 74 caps, 10 points), Vincent Koch (Cell C Sharks – 45 caps, 0 points), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers – 61 caps, 5 points), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks – 19 caps, 0 points), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92 – 61 caps, 5 points).
Hookers: Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks – 60 caps, 60 points), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears – 61 caps, 75 points).
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks – 112 caps, 25 points), Jean Kleyn (Munster – 2 caps, 0 points), Marvin Orie (Perpignan – 14 caps, 0 points), RG Snyman (Munster – 26 caps, 5 points).
Loose Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz – 69 caps, 30 points), Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92 – 75 caps, 45 points), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs – 33 caps, 25 points), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls – 12 caps, 0 points), Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby – 68 caps, 15 points), Jasper Wiese (Leicester – 22 caps, 5 points).
Utility Forwards: Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 0 points), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat – 65 caps, 15 points).
ALSO READ | Springboks’ World Cup pool game referees CONFIRMED
Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles – 48 caps, 44 points), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks – 12 caps, 12 points), Cobus Reinach (Montpelllier – 25 caps, 45 points), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks – 4 caps, 0 points).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 45 points), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers – 31 caps, 36 points).
Centres: Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights – 72 caps, 50 points), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins – 13 caps, 0 points), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles – 61 caps, 60 points).
Outside Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls – 9 caps, 50 points), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath – 25 caps, 81 points), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls – 86 caps, 65 points), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks – 38 caps, 115 points), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls – 6 caps, 10 points).