Veteran inside centre and double World Cup winner Damian de Allende will embrace the atmosphere and pressure that comes with playing his 100th Test when the Springboks face the All Blacks on Saturday.
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Damian de Allende’s build-up to his 100th Test for the Springboks may have been overshadowed by the pre-game exchanges between the Boks and All Blacks, but one of South Africa’s most decorated centres will embrace the milestone in one of the biggest matches of his career.
While the focus will be on a team performance to celebrate the occasion in the opening match of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, De Allende has a crucial role to play in the midfield as he becomes just the 10th Springbok to reach 100 Test caps, particularly in stopping New Zealand’s sharp attack.
De Allende has walked a mostly smooth journey with the Boks over the last almost 12 years since his debut in October 2014 against Argentina in the Rugby Championship. While he started out as a No 13, over the years he has established himself as the Boks’ premier inside centre, winning two World Cups in the process.
