De Allende gives a peak into partnership with Lukhanyo Am

Midfielder Damian de Allende has provided some insight into his on-field centre partnership with Lukhanyo Am, which is widely regarded as the best in world rugby.

Over the past two years or so, Am and De Allende, both still under 30, have formed a storming partnership that has helped the Springboks win the Rugby Championship, World Cup and British & Irish Lions series.

They are once again going to be key when the Boks take on England in Twickenham on Saturday looking to seal their first unbeaten Outgoing Tour since 2013.

SA have already beaten Wales and Scotland, and ending the season with a victory over England will also see Jacques Nienaber’s men retain the No 1 spot on the world rankings.

Their impressive performances have drawn glowing comparisons to previous powerful Bok midfield pairings such as De Wet Barry and Marius Joubert and Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie.

“Our communication on the field is exceptional and that helps a lot with having a good understanding of each other,” De Allende said.

“Having a strong relationship helps because every game is different and has its own challenges. We are very composed on the field and we chat a lot. Even though sometimes it doesn’t feel like we are in the game, but we like to get involved.

“We talk to each other so that we are ready for the next moment that comes and if there are opportunities we try to grab them with both hands, whether it is making a big tackle, making a set at the breakdown or launching an attack.

“For the two of us it is just trying to stay in the moment on the field, we just try to stay as prepared as we possibly can for the next opportunity that comes our way.”

The other important factor of their partnership is that they cover each other, De Allende added.

“We feed off each other, I am always there to back him up and he is always there to back me up. Not every game is the same and sometimes I make a mistake on the field and he will be there to cover me.

“It is the same when he makes a mistake, I am always there to help and back him up.”

This international season, the Springboks have won nine matches after 13 Tests and De Allende says they are hoping to peak with a win over England.

“When we got together in that first week before the British & Irish Lions, we hadn’t seen each other for a long time since the World Cup ...

“Those few days we came together for the first time were incredible, I have never seen the guys that excited. It was a bit dampening when there was a Covid-19 outbreak after the Georgia Test and we were separated for about two weeks.

“We only started training as a group on the Monday before the first Test against the British & Irish Lions. It has been a challenging year and we have been in the bubble since the Lions tour.

“There was a trip to Australia to complete the Rugby Championship, that was tough for us mentally, but I think as a squad we got together nicely and we won the last match on that tour before we headed home again.

“We are in a bio-bubble again but we need the last push this weekend to end the season on a high and hopefully we can sit down and look back at the year that has just passed and cherish memories that we made together.”