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'I don't see that happening' - Jean de Villiers picks his Springboks midfield to face the Lions

By Josh Raisey
(Photo by Getty Images)

South African great Jean de Villiers has picked Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am as his starting Springboks centres to take on the British and Irish Lions later this year, saying the combination “has really worked for the Boks”. The former inside centre, who started in the No12 shirt against the Lions in the victorious first and second Tests in 2009, joined Christina Mahon, Jamie Roberts and Ryan Wilson on the latest RugbyPass Offload to discuss the upcoming series.

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He singled out de Allende as a Springboks player who will play an important role at inside centre having spent the last year playing for Munster. De Villiers also made the same move to the Irish province during his career, albeit after the 2009 Lions tour, so he will know the advantages that come with playing alongside and against future Test level opponents on a regular basis.

“I don’t see a lot of change in terms of the starting line-up that played in the World Cup final, to be honest,” said the 109-cap former Springboks midfielder.

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“Being a midfielder myself, Damian de Allende, the way he played recently against Leinster and the performance that he put in, (with) his experience now of playing against a lot of the guys that will be in the Lions squad he has got a massive role to play. Handre Pollard probably will be playing next to him at No10, but he will need to take on a much more senior role so that will be key for us.”

Roberts quizzed the South African on the chances of the recently suspended Harlequins midfielder Andre Esterhuizen starting alongside de Allende after a season in the Gallagher Premiership where he has been used to devastating effect. “I don’t see that happening,” de Villiers replied.

“Jamie, if you take the success of yourself and Brian O’Driscoll in ’09, having the bigger player that can get massive momentum like yourself and then a bit more, well actually a lot more, speed and flair in the No13 channel really worked.

“The combination of Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am has really worked for the Boks, so I can’t see them playing (de Allende and Esterhuizen) together, it will be a like-for-like swap. So if de Allende cannot make it then Esterhuizen definitely comes in because he has been very impressive at Quins.”

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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