‘My country comes first': De Allende shares knowledge on Barbarians coaches
The Springboks believe Wild Knights head coach Robbie Deans will bring structure to the Barbarians attack. Picture:Damian de Allende said he is sharing what he knows about the inclinations and tendencies of the Barbarians' coaches with his own mentors at the Springboks.
The South Africans will host the Barbarians in Cape Town on 28 June, with De Allende's Japanese club coach, Robbie Deans, and assistant Atsushi Kanazawa of the Wild Knights leading the multinational side.
De Allende has played under Deans for three years at the Wild Knights in Kumagaya – a small city with under 200,000 residents. He said that while he loves the club and has respect for his coaches, he felt obliged to share what he knows of them with his national mentors.
Springboks before Baabaas
'I have spoken to some of the coaches … Felix [Jones] and Jerry [Flannery], a bit, on the attacking side,' De Allende said.
'I really have a lot of respect for Robbie and Ash [Kanazawa Atsushi] – our attack coach is also the attack coach of the Barbarians next week. I love Panasonic rugby [now called Saitama Wild Knights] … and Robbie Deans has taught me a lot. But my country comes first.'
While the sharing of intellectual property in analysis of opposition is common in competitive rugby, the Barbarians game is friendlier than a normal Test match. That may be why De Allende was so forthcoming with his admission of sharing what he knows.
Coaches will bring structure to the Barbarians
The 87-capped Springbok centre said the pair had taught him much about identifying space and attacking plays over the years.
'It's going to be a challenge because Robbie and Atsushi like the guys to move the ball around.
'The challenge will be … they want a loose game. But I think Robbie and Atsushi will get them to move the ball around in a structured environment. They [the Barbarians] will get their structure right quite quickly.'
De Allende said he and [Bok and Wild Knights] teammate Lood de Jager know the structure the two coaches encourage, and can pass that knowledge on.
'We don't know exactly what they will do, but we might have an idea of what they will try and bring,' he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
18 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Ackermann talks up star quality of Junior Bok players included in Rassie's training group
Junior Springbok loose forward Bathobele Hlekani, winger Cheswill Jooste, and scrumhalf Haashim Pead will join the senior side for a two-week training camp. Johan Ackermann has sung the praises of three U20 players who have been included in the upcoming Springbok training group. Loose forward Bathobele Hlekani, winger Cheswill Jooste, and scrumhalf Haashim Pead join 37 Test-capped Springboks for the two-week camp in Johannesburg starting on Sunday. It follows the side's triumphant World Rugby U20 Championship campaign, where Pead (six tries) and Jooste were two of the most dangerous backline players in the tournament. Hlekani was also solid in his carries to help lift the trophy. Ackermann served as a consultant for the Junior Springboks from January to July, finishing his stint on a high with their title win. Now appointed head coach of the Bulls, he leaves with fond memories from his time with the Junior Boks. 'I hope the future will have the same' 'It was a privilege working with them,' Ackermann said. 'The outstanding thing was the hunger they had. Even the players who didn't make the 30 [championship squad], the players we had to release, they were so hungry to do well. They were so eager to learn. I hope the future will have the same.' He said there was not one argument or incident of grumbling among the group, adding that coach Kevin Foote, assistant coach Melusi Mthethwa and captain Riley Norton were special in how they turned a talented group into one that could achieve greatness. Ackermann discussed the strengths of each player included in the Bok group at length. He said Jooste had 'tremendous feet'. 'He's extremely fast, and he's tough. If he needs to run through a guy, he will do it. Even if he doesn't have the size, he will take him on. He is not afraid in defence. If you give him space, he's gone.' The coach commended Pead, who broke France star Antoine Dupont's U20 record for running metres by a scrumhalf in the pool stages of the tournament. Pead ran 232 metres from 15 carries, surpassing Dupont's 227 set in 2016. Ackermann described Pead as an outstanding nine and one of the team's leaders. 'He brings a lot of calmness. He doesn't get fazed. His demeanour is relaxed and he takes that over to the game.' He said the youngster could see space like few could, and was good in his box kicking. Ackermann sees potential in powerhouse Hlekani 'Batho is a big man, strong. Good ball carrier, physical. I used him a lot for the mauls and we got him jumping, because when I got there he wasn't jumping in the lineouts. 'In a one-on-one tackle he can hit you. Probably his biggest work-on is that he sometimes tends to think he can keep everybody up because he is so strong, and then he loses metres.' He said the big man also needed to ensure his work rate didn't drop during the course of a full match, like it did in the semi-final against Argentina. 'So if he can keep his work rate up, he's got all the physical attributes to be a very good flanker.'
The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
Orlando Pirates news: Commercial win and transfer setback
Orlando Pirates' emphatic offseason just got better. Suzuki, the Japanese car manufacturer, has officially partnered with the Soweto giants as their new vehicle sponsor. 'A new chapter starts here,' Suzuki announced. 'From the streets to the stadium, we move as one.' This agreement strengthens Pirates' already formidable sponsor portfolio, which includes big names like Adidas, Aquelle, Vodacom and Carling Black Label. While the Suzuki announcement is a commercial boost, one of Pirates' long-standing targets, Fawaaz Basadien, appears set for a move to Mamelodi Sundowns. After missing training yesterday, speculation has intensified around his potential exit. In addition, concerns continue around the future of one of the club's brightest young prospects, Relebohile Mofokeng. With several foreign clubs circling, his father, Sechaba, has made no secret of his desire to see him leave the local league for Europe. 'I know God will answer my prayers,' he said. 'Take him to Barcelona? He can play. PSG? He can play. Any country — but not Saudi Arabia. Not yet.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
Former Junior Bok ineligible for England despite residency
Jacques Vermeulen has been ruled ineligible to play for England despite meeting World Rugby's five-year residency requirement. The 30-year-old flank, who recently signed for Sale Sharks after several standout seasons at Exeter Chiefs, was reportedly on the radar of England coach Steve Borthwick. But Vermeulen's involvement in the 2015 World Rugby U20 Championship has shut the door on his Test ambitions. Back then, the Junior Springboks were South Africa's designated second team. That means Vermeulen's single appearance at the tournament officially capped him for South Africa, even though he never played Test rugby. World Rugby's eligibility rules allow players to switch nations only if they were born in the new country, or have a parent or grandparent who was. Vermeulen doesn't qualify under those terms. 'It's very frustrating,' Vermeulen told BBC Radio Devon. 'I don't know why they're stopping it. How can they say that because you played for the U20s when you were 19 or 20, you're capped for a country?' Also read: Japanese club snaps up Saffa trio Vermeulen, who played a key role in Exeter's 2019-20 Premiership and Champions Cup double, said he felt bitterly disappointed, especially after completing his five-year residency and beginning the process of acquiring British citizenship. Adding to his frustration is the perceived inconsistency in how the rules are applied. 'Look how many guys are playing for Scotland who played for the Junior Boks – guys like Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman [both in 2014 when the SA U20s were not SA Rugby's designated second team],' he said. 'I get really angry about it because I'm like, how can you stop a guy after they played 10 years ago for a country?' The post England can't pick ex-Junior Bok appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
