Damian de Allende will carve his name into the ultimate pantheon of South African rugby history this Saturday at 10bet Ellis Park. When he runs out against the All Blacks in the opening match of the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, the powerful inside centre will earn his 100th Test cap, becoming just the 10th Springbok centurion in history.
For over a decade, the 34-year-old midfielder has been the immovable backbone of the Springboks. While flashier players often dominate the highlight reels, De Allende’s unmatched consistency, physical dominance at the gainline, and underrated skillset have made him arguably the finest number 12 of the modern era. As he prepares to achieve a milestone that perfectly reflects his durability, we look back at the journey that defined the career of a true Springbok legend.
A proud product of Milnerton High School and Western Province, De Allende earned his international debut in 2014 under Heyneke Meyer against Argentina at Loftus Versfeld. His debut immediately signalled the arrival of a massive physical presence in the midfield, setting the tone for a long and illustrious international career.
De Allende was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. South Africa went on to win the tournament, defeating England in the final, marking the midfielder's first world title. His most iconic individual moment of that tournament came in the semi-final against Wales, where he steamrolled through three defenders to score the decisive try that propelled South Africa into the showcase event.
De Allende started in all three tests for South Africa during the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa. He earned his 50th cap for the Springboks during their third test victory that sealed a series win for the home team. His performances garnered widespread praise for his relentless work rate and physical edge during the highly contested series.
He cemented his legendary status as an indispensable starter in the midfield partnerships that secured consecutive Rugby World Cup titles in Japan and France. While critics have historically labelled him as a pure crash-ball centre, De Allende has consistently evolved his game to prove them wrong. He produced pure magic at Twickenham in 2024 by breaking two tackles and executing a stunning no-look pass to release Cheslin Kolbe for a famous try against England.
More recently, he has thrived under the Boks' attack coach Tony Brown, unlocking a deeper passing game. This has allowed the team to transition into a wider, more expansive attacking style. Brown's arrival has shown that even as a veteran, De Allende is completely capable of adapting to modern, fast-paced tactical shifts.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus did not hold back his praise when discussing his veteran inside centre. Erasmus noted that while people often think his skill is his physicality, it is actually his understanding of the game, his passing, and knowing exactly when to get involved in the play.
Reflecting directly on De Allende reaching the historic 100-test mark, Erasmus expressed massive excitement for the milestone. "We are all very excited for Damian, and to achieve this milestone in this series makes it even more special," said Erasmus. "He's a great team man, and servant to the game, so we hope we can make it a memorable day for him."
The coach also emphasised De Allende's professionalism during this massive week. Erasmus added, "That said, his focus all week has only been on this match, and he will certainly not let the occasion shadow what he has to do on the field."
By reaching triple digits this weekend, De Allende joins an elite, legendary list of Springbok centurions that includes Eben Etzebeth, Bryan Habana, Victor Matfield, John Smit, Jean de Villiers, Tendai Mtawarira, Percy Montgomery, Joost van der Westhuizen, and Siya Kolisi. He also moves to just two starts away from breaking Jean de Villiers' historic record for the most Test starts in the midfield for South Africa.