Damian de Allende relishes clash with old teammates as Springboks face Japan

Few know Japanese club rugby better than Damian de Allende, and the seasoned Springbok centre has warned that the Boks should not expect a walk in the park when they face Japan at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

The 33-year-old midfielder, currently in his third stint in Japan, has built an intimate understanding of the country’s rugby culture. After his first spell with the Kintetsu Liners between 2015 and 2017, De Allende joined the Wild Knights in 2019 before moving to Ireland to play for Munster. He returned to Japan in 2022 to rejoin the Wild Knights, where he remains a key figure.

Speaking from London ahead of the Boks’ November tour opener, De Allende said he is looking forward to facing some familiar faces — including several of his Wild Knights teammates — and expects a fiercely competitive contest.

“It’s very exciting to play against Japanese players from other clubs, but this weekend I’m more excited to enjoy myself and go up against some teammates from the Wild Knights because I know how good and how tough they are,” said De Allende, who has made over 50 appearances for the club.

“I’m also looking forward to the other challenges that I enjoy, so hopefully I can go out there and represent my country the way I always do.”

The Bok veteran, a key member of South Africa’s 2019 World Cup-winning team in Japan, expects a fast and physical encounter.

“I’ve played against Japanese centre Charlie Lawrence (born in New Zealand) a few times, and it’s always a great battle — he’s very powerful and quick on his feet. There’s also Dylan Rylie, who I’ve played with in Japan; he’s deceptively fast and strong, so it’s going to be a fast, intense, and physical game,” De Allende said.

Given his deep knowledge of the Japanese league and its players, De Allende echoed the sentiment of his midfield partner, Jesse Kriel, that the Boks will not be underestimating the Brave Blossoms — ranked 13th in the world — despite their underdog status.

“We’ve been preparing for a fast game because that’s the way the Japanese definitely want to play, but it will be equally important to play our brand of rugby and on our terms,” he said.

“Japan got stuck in against Australia when they lost by only four points last weekend, so it’s going to be a hard game.”

While De Allende has been to Wembley before, Saturday’s clash will mark his first time playing on the iconic pitch — an experience he says he is relishing.

“I watched the Boks play the Barbarians there before, as well as an NFL match, and the rugby league game between England and Australia last week, but I’ve never played on the pitch,” he said. “The stadium looks beautiful. It has so much history and heritage, so I’m really looking forward to being part of this match.”