De Allende relishes clash with old teammates

FEW know Japanese club rugby better than Damian de Allende, and the seasoned Springbok centre has warned that the Boks should not expect a walk in the park when they face Japan at Wembley Stadium tomorrow.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

The 33-year-old midfielder, currently in his third stint in Japan, has built an intimate understanding of the country’s rugby culture. After his first spell with the Kintetsu Liners between 2015 and 2017, De Allende joined the Wild Knights in 2019 before moving to Ireland to play for Munster. He returned to Japan in 2022 to rejoin the Wild Knights, where he remains a key figure.

Speaking from London ahead of the Boks’ November tour opener, De Allende said he is looking forward to facing some familiar faces — including several of his Wild Knights teammates — and expects a fiercely competitive contest.