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Damian de Allende: South Africa vs Ireland will be 'like a war'

South Africa's Damian de Allende in action against Ireland at the Rugby World Cup (Photo by Lionel Hahn/Getty Images)

On July 6, in the rarefied atmosphere of Loftus Versfeld, South Africa will meet Ireland in the first match of a two-Test series that will – unofficially – decide the best team in the world. A week later the teams will lock horns again in Durban.

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It’s a battle – or in Damian de Allende’s mind more than a battle, “almost like a war” – between the back-to-back world champion Springboks and the team that they displaced at the top of the World Rugby men’s rankings en route to lifting the Webb Ellis Cup at the Stade de France last October.

In the latest episode of Walk the Talk, the RugbyPass TV series, de Allende told Jim Hamilton just how much he is looking forward to taking on the Guinness Six Nations champions and putting recent results against them to rights.

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Damian de Allende – Walk the Talk Trailer | RPTV

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Damian de Allende – Walk the Talk Trailer | RPTV

Springbok Damian de Allende joins Jim Hamilton for a fascinating chat about all things Springbok rugby, including RWC2023 and the upcoming Ireland series. Full interview coming Thurs 6th June.

Coming Soon

Ireland have won the last three encounters, most recently by 13-8 in the pool stages of RWC 2023, although it is eight years since they last won in South Africa, 26-20 at Newlands.

“The Test match in Dublin in 2022 was a tough loss (16-19), so there have been a few tough games against them,” said de Allende.

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“We lost to them in 2017 when they beat us 38-3. The way the media spoke, they completely disrespected us. So for us as a group and for us as Springboks it is about getting respect back, not their respect, but our own respect. We don’t need to but we really want to beat Ireland. It is going to be an incredible Test match.”

Incredible is a word de Allende uses a lot about the Springboks’ next opponents. “Ireland are incredible, they are incredibly well coached. Their attacking shape is incredible, with the way they get their passes off nine, especially when they get momentum.

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“With Ireland, the biggest threat is the breakdown, they are so good at the breakdown. No matter if they are getting dominated in contact, they still manage to get the ball out quick enough.”

Being able to play Ireland in front of their own South African supporters is something that the 78-cap de Allende can’t wait for. “I’m looking forward to it the most because it is the first Test match for us together as a group after we have won the World Cup in front of our own crowd.

“We never got that luxury after winning the 2019 World Cup because of covid and everything like that. That first game against Ireland at Loftus, whether I play or not, it is just going to feel almost like a war.

“A lot of people give them credit for being number one in the world because they play such good footy but that’s going to be a flippin’ incredible battle.”

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Comments

27 Comments
G
Gavan 265 days ago

Not sure his comments about Farrells lack of understanding of Ireland were well researched

R
Reuben 265 days ago

Lol 2017…


NZ & IRE: 95

SA: 3


🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

R
Red and White Dynamight 266 days ago

Ireland start as favourites. Why wouldnt they, 3 consecutive wins incl at RWC. Its domination really, 8 wins and past 12 Tests. De Allende is just another punchdrunk Bok, convinced the 1pt wins and referee blunders has turned him in to Superman.

D
DA 262 days ago

and you are just another foul mouthed drunken key board dumb wannabe

W
WI 266 days ago

Will be a fascinating series. The Boks have had bogey teams before, I think Wales was on a 4 game winning sequence against The Boks. Not sure how much the Home Advantage will count, Wales almost won at Loftus in 2022.


England and The All Blacks, think that will be a good series too.

f
fl 267 days ago

Actually this isn’t a war, it isn’t a world cup, it probably isn’t even the most exciting test series this summer. If SA win 2-0 they’ll never shut up about it, but regardless of the result no one else will remember this series in 2 or 3 years time.

D
DA 262 days ago

your brain power is limited and so you definately won’t

B
Bull Shark 266 days ago

Don’t watch it then.

C
CR 267 days ago

I still remember the last series…

J
JK 267 days ago

Should be a good series…waits w popcorn

T
Terry24 267 days ago

Great games over that period. NZ England also

T
Terry24 267 days ago

He says the media disrespected us 38-3 back in 2017?

Is he saying the Irish media disrespected them?

Rassie is trying to create a unifying sense of injustice by Ireland against SA so that there is a common grievance to be righted in Loftus. Fair enough and maybe explains Etzebeths weird accusations.

No-one remembers what Irish media said in 2017, was probably a euphoric sense of new ground broken for a rising Irish team against a Major World force.

Whatever they said in Ireland it the reciminations in SA media would have been 1000000% worse. I think a sense of wanting to win in front of home supporters is better. The players wont buy the other nonsense.

f
fl 267 days ago

Honestly, so many members of this south africa team seem to be truly pathetic people. I can’t imagine international players from any other nation acting like this.

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J
JW 56 minutes ago
Where is the new breed of All Black 10?

LOL angry at what? You trying to put words into peoples mouths with your wild theories? No I’m well used to that by now mate.

ou should stop making silly comments like ‘a very small set of examples’ if you don’t want ppl to call you out and start taking you seriously!

I have no idea what you’re talking about.

FYI he’s started at 10 53 times since 2020/21 in all comps.

Yes, as I’ve said. 38 of those times were (SR) after Mo’unga left for Japan, and possibly even the 8 times for Waikato (even though on a ‘sabbatical’ he was still made to play NPC after returning from Japan for some reason) were because NZR told him he had to switch because Richie was leaving.


I can’t really make sense of what you’re trying to argue but all I can think I said was;

He’s only got a very small set of examples so understandable people don’t immediately adjust to him as the best in the world

I’m referring to international fans, who are only really going to watch the All Blacks, so yes, it’s them trying to compare his games last year to what they imagine he played like as a fullback for so long. Outside that, he’s played say now 45 odd times since he made the switch, and only 30 odd (thanks to a full SR season there) of the past 150 before that, you’re idea that it makes him a first five and therefor not still learning, is “entirely false”


If you want people to start taking you seriously Nick you really need to up your debating game! No seriously though I know I like to avoid explaining things for dummies but you very rarely have the right take on any of my theories, you’ve just got you’re own angle that takes over, so don’t expect to be able to debate much (as it will be by yourself basically lol). I suspect it’s something to do with needing to keep a lot of things in your mind for your articles that it’s probably impossible for you to just listen and not introduce outside noise, so no biggie.

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J
Jacob Brown 1 hour ago
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