'Munster have the credentials, the coaching staff and the heart'
World Cup-winning Springbok midfielder Damian de Allende has set his sights on lifting the Guinness PRO14 trophy, claiming his new club Munster have the ability to cause a massive upset in Friday night’s semi-final against Leinster, the defending champions.
Leinster won the regular-season fixture a fortnight ago between the two clubs, taking the spoils narrowly 27-25, and are unbeaten this season after 21 PRO14 and European Champions Cup games.
However, de Allende insists that Munster, under South African coach Johann van Graan, have the ambition to win trophies, a potential that excites him. “For me personally no matter where I play I always strive to win tournaments and championships,” he said.
“I signed for Munster because I feel they have the credentials, the coaching staff and the heart. From what I’ve watched on television – obviously, I have only played two games here – I feel they have that team environment that they actually want to achieve, where you could go to another squad and you will have all the names and stars but they aren’t working for that success.
“I feel just playing in these two games there is a real want and desire to win the semi-finals and finals, and not just once or twice but consistently. And not just in PRO14, but in the Champions Cup as well. Friday night is going to be a very tough encounter. Hopefully, we will pitch up.
Spanish heritage ??
A fashion icon? ?Five things you may not know about @munsterrugby's @Doogz ? https://t.co/6hojqtJD7b #GuinnessPRO14 pic.twitter.com/iVGrXtPlj1
— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) August 9, 2020
“We know it’s just a mental thing. We haven’t played a lot of rugby over the past six months, so there will be a few sore bodies. If we get the right mindset and we pitch up knowing we have one opportunity, and not worry about anything else, just stay in that moment for 80 minutes, then hopefully we can walk off with big smiles on our faces on Friday night.”
Midfielder de Allende feels right at home in the tribal clash between the two Irish sides, the new Munster player explaining it reminds him of the north-south derbies between the Stormers and Bulls in South Africa.
“It is quite personal. For me, it is quite similar to when I played for the Stormers against the Bulls. It’s like a north-south derby – it’s personal and physical. It gets quite intense on the field, even though you have a massive amount of respect for each other.
“Those Irish guys are competing for spots to play for Ireland, but there is still that mutual respect for each other on and off the pitch. I probably need to play a few more, but I certainly do understand the way they see it and it’s very encouraging to help them beat Leinster as well.”
Leinster will start as odds-on favourites but Munster hope to be third time lucky as it’s the third consecutive season they have faced their arch-rivals at this stage of the PRO14 season. De Allende is champing at the bit to get out there. His likely match-up against Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose – the incumbent Irish centres – will be keenly watched, especially after the Leinster pair got the better of Munster in the last clash.
“They are both world-class centres, both have been very good at international level. Leinster were very good and they put in some good kicks behind us as well. We know that we can’t put too many at the breakdown. Sometimes we are committing too many guys, especially on our defensive line.
“If we commit too many guys and we are short on defence, they will exploit us very easily. They did so in that first game. We need to be aware of that. They are also very physical and very fast and we will have to be switched on.”
De Allende added that while the first game took its toll physically after so long off due to the lockdown, the team needed their win over Connacht last Sunday to give them confidence for Friday night.
“That first game against Leinster was pretty tough on the body. I’d been out for long and hadn’t played and to come up against Leinster, a world-class team, the number one or two team in the world at the moment at club level is quite a challenge.
“It’s a good test for us as a team going forward. We had quite a few new guys who came in as well and we held up well. Last week was a lot better in terms of the result, but it was also very good for the semi-finals. Connacht was very physical. There was a lot of energy and it felt like we needed almost a tough game like that before a semi-final.”
Destructive from @Munsterrugby, coast-to-coast play with offloads aplenty and everyone pitching in ?
Andrew Conway earns the #GuinnessPRO14 Round 15 @Ronseal Perfect Finish ? pic.twitter.com/EACzcKY9Fe
— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) August 31, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments