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World Cup winner de Allende has let slip his toughest obstacle settling in at Munster
Springbok Damian de Allende, the new Munster midfield signing, has revealed the one thing that he has struggled most with following his recent switch to Limerick – the Irish weather.
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Having recently arrived in Ireland, the 28-year-old centre who spent the earlier part of 2020 playing in Japan for Panasonic Wild Knights is hoping to rehab a calf problem in time for Munster’s Guinness PRO14 2019/20 restart match away to Leinster on August 22.
Speaking in his first interview since joining Munster, de Allende was asked how he is finding settling into his new surroundings. “It has been great,” he said on the Munster website video.
“The one tough thing I need to get used to is the weather. When people say the weather is quite bad I didn’t actually believe it. We are getting a little bit of sunshine but it’s probably once every few days at most, but other than that it has been really good. To be at the HPC (high performance centre) has been great.”
It won’t be until the new 2020/21 season that de Allende will likely have the chance to play at Thomond Park. The province’s two rearranged 2019/20 regular season matches – versus Leinster and Connacht – are scheduled for Aviva Stadium and a semi-final appearance is also likely to be played out behind closed doors in Dublin.
? VIDEO | Introducing @Doogz
Find out how @RugbyWorldCup winner Damian de Allende is settling into life at Munster in his first interview since joining the province ??#SUAF ?
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) July 28, 2020
However, when he does eventually get to make his maiden Limerick appearance, his fingers are crossed that some level of normality will have returned to sports events in Ireland and he can get a taste of the famed Thomond Park atmosphere. “To watch the Champions Cup and see games being played at Thomond Park, it just gives me a feeling of the ways the fans are at the Stormers and Western Province,” he said.
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“I’m sure home games are out of the world in terms of the noise and everything like that. I’m really looking forward to that first home game. Hopefully by the time we get to that first home game supporters will be allowed to enter the stadium. I’m very excited. I’m looking forward to pulling that jersey on and we can make great memories.”
It’s now eight months since the Springboks lifted the World Cup in Yokohama under the guidance of Rassie Erasmus, the former Munster coach. De Allende, though, is still get used to life as a World Cup winner.
“I don’t think it has sunk in yet. It will sink in when I give it a few more years because I don’t think we realised at the time what we did for our country. It was awesome to win the World Cup, and then go and celebrate my brother’s wedding as well.
“I have never seen Cape Town like that before. I cried probably five or six times on the bus because it was just a bit overwhelming, but it was a very good experience. It was something that I can’t really explain, it’s just something that you have to experience first-hand.”
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Jeepers, watch out Aussies ? https://t.co/9OykvSa58A
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 28, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Eye gouging seems like such a strong term for what can only be described as a poke in the eye. When I think of eye gouging I think of someone trying to intentionally pop someone’s eyeball out. it’s like calling a high-tackle attempted decapitation.
3 Go to commentsGreat article. No insights to add, just wanted to say that. :)
1 Go to commentsLeinster are going to win the world cup.
13 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
42 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
42 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
42 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
13 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
42 Go to comments