All eyes on De Allende in Durban

25 May 2017 - 17:36 By Craig Ray
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Damian de Allende during the DHL Stormers training session and press conference at DHL Newlands Stadium on May 17, 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Damian de Allende during the DHL Stormers training session and press conference at DHL Newlands Stadium on May 17, 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Image: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images

No one will be a more interested spectator than Springbok coach Allister Coetzee when Stormers centre Damian de Allende makes his first Super Rugby start since round one against the Sharks on Saturday.

De Allende is one of four changes to the Stormers backline for the match as coach Robbie Fleck reshuffled his side for the meeting in Durban.

The Bok centre needs game time with the June series against France approaching and this is a good chance to play at least 60 minutes to prove he is ready for Test rugby in a fortnight.

With injury ruling incumbent Bok No 12 Rohan Janse an Rensburg out of the June series‚ De Allende and Jan Serfontein will be vying for the jersey in the coming weeks.

  • Has the beleaguered Marais picked his last team as Bulls coach? Moments after beleaguered Bulls coach Nollis Marais named the team to face the red-hot Hurricanes‚ the Pretoria side announced that it would hold another press conference at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Thursday evening. 

Serfontein has been in good form despite the Bulls’ woes but De Allende offers better ability to breach the gainline when he is in top form.

This match affords him the chance to improve his match sharpness at a critical stage of the year for the Boks.

De Allende‚ who replaces the suspended Shaun Treeby‚ will partner EW Viljoen in the midfield‚ which showed so much promise in their brief stint together in round one against the Bulls.

  • Fantastic leader for competitive Bok squadThe third Springbok training camp held in Johannesburg in preparation for next month's three-Test series against France was an enjoyable experience. 

Jano Vermaak and Kurt Coleman are the new halfback pairing with newly selected Bok utility back Dillyn Leyds returning to the left wing after playing flyhalf against the Blues last week.

Leyds did an admirable job in his first flyhalf start at this level‚ but there is no doubt he is more comfortable on the wing or at fullback.

Seabelo Senatla drops to the bench with the Leyds’ switch where he will sit alongside Bok centre Juan de Jongh‚ who is also set for his first Super Rugby action of the season.

  • Malcolm Marx yet to commit his immediate future to South African rugbyHe is in a position to cement his place in the Springbok starting line-up‚ but Malcolm Marx is yet to commit his immediate future to South African rugby. 

After superb work from the forwards who subdued the Blues last week on their way to a 30-22 win‚ Fleck has retained the same eight for what should be a typically thunderous South African derby.

Lock Pieter-Steph du Toit will make his 50th Super Rugby appearance against the team that gave him his debut in the competition.

Coleman’s selection is also a calculated gamble considering the fringe player has been on the field for 57 minutes all season.

  • Naas Botha doesn't feel Johann van Graan is ready to become next Bulls head coachFormer Springbok flyhalf and Bulls legend Naas Botha doesn't feel that Johann van Graan is ready to become the next Bulls head coach. 

Fleck also hasn’t included a recognised flyhalf on the bench‚ dropping Brandon Thomson‚ meaning Leyds or reserve scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage to cover the No 10 jersey if needed.

“It is always tough going to Kings Park and we know that we will be seriously tested over there‚ but our focus is on developing our own game‚” Fleck said.

“The team would like to build on our win against the Blues‚ so our focus this week has been on backing up on that performance.”

  • Robertson's fitness comments rub Springbok coach Coetzee up the wrong waySpringbok coach Allister Coetzee seemingly took offence at Scott Robertson's fitness comments‚ saying little attention should be paid to his predecessors. 

Stormers: 15 SP Marais‚ 14 Cheslin Kolbe‚ 13 EW Viljoen‚ 12 Damian de Allende‚ 11 Dillyn Leyds‚ 10 Kurt Coleman‚ 9 Jano Vermaak‚ 8 Nizaam Carr‚ 7 Siya Kolisi (captain)‚ 6 Kobus van Dyk‚ 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit‚ 4 Eben Etzebeth‚ 3 Frans Malherbe‚ 2 Bongi Mbonambi‚ 1 Oli Kebble.


Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels‚ 17 Ali Vermaak‚ 18 Wilco Louw‚ 19 Chris van Zyl‚ 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe‚ 21 Dewaldt Duvenage‚ 22 Juan de Jongh‚ 23 Seabelo Senatla.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now