Springboks' midfield rock Damian de Allende on the brink of 100 Test caps

While he knows he is edging ever closer to the 100-cap milestone for the Springboks, veteran centre and double World Cup winner Damian de Allende is in no rush to look too far ahead.

For the 33-year-old midfield rock, it’s about staying in the moment and cherishing every opportunity to pull on the green and gold jersey.

De Allende earned his 95th Test cap when he lined up against France in Paris on Saturday evening, in what was a repeat of last year’s pulsating Rugby World Cup quarter-final between the same sides. It was another reminder of his enduring influence in the Bok backline — a blend of experience, physicality and calm that has been central to South Africa’s success over the seven years.

If selected for one or two more matches during the November tour, De Allende will inch even closer to a milestone that only a select few have achieved in the Springbok jersey.

Should his journey continue on its current course, the Cape-born powerhouse could celebrate his 100th Test appearance on home soil against the All Blacks in 2026 — fittingly, in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, when the world champions take on their fiercest foes once again.

He could then become the 10th player in the history of South African rugby to wear the Bok jersey in 100 Tests. His captain and long-time Stormers and Bok teammate, Siya Kolisi, became the ninth centurion against the French on Saturday. Loose forward Pieter-Steph du Toit is one cap behind De Allende on 93.

“I am getting close to 100, but I am not thinking about it just yet. For me, it has always been taking it week by week, and the rest will take care of itself,” De Allende said.

“However, it has been an incredible journey so far. There have been plenty of tough times, but over the last couple of years, there’s been a lot of success. All those tough times together, to see what we have achieved together, have been really incredible. That hard work won’t stop.

“The goal is to constantly improve as a squad and as individuals. I have enjoyed this journey so far, and I feel I am not close to finishing up anytime soon.”

While De Allende has highlighted winning two World Cups, the Rugby Championship back-to-back and all the other trophies in between as moments that really stand out, he says all of it was brought together by the lows they experienced in 2016 and 2017.

The inside centre was, of course, referring to a first loss against Italy in 2016 and being defeated by a second-string Wales in the same year, before a record 57-0 loss to the All Blacks in 2017 under then head coach Allister Coetzee.

With the appointment of Rassie Erasmus as head coach in 2018, the Boks turned their fortunes around, and De Allende was one of the players who rediscovered the form that made him a Springbok.

“What got us here was what we went through back then. Because several players from 2016 and 2017 are still in the squad. Those were the low of lows. To see what we have achieved.

“To this day, we still speak about it because we know how it affected us and how hard we had to work to get here and what we have achieved. It was very low, but I look back and smile about it and cherish it. I believe that helped us to get where we are today.”

He emphasised that looking too far ahead into the future is not in his DNA, and he likes to take things as they come by the week, but a fourth World Cup is on his radar. He first represented the Boks as a youngster at the 2015 tournament, before starring in the victories in 2019 and 2023.

While Australia’s tournament is still two years away, the 33-year-old is keen to look after his body in the next couple of seasons to stay at the top of his game. He added that as long as he is still enjoying the game, there are no thoughts of stopping just yet.

“My body is still feeling good right now, things might change next year or the year after. I will just keep working hard like I do and look after my body. Most importantly, I want to ensure I still have fun out there.

“That is the main reason why I still carry on and play. If I didn’t enjoy myself, I wouldn’t see the purpose of being here, because then I wouldn’t be giving my all.”