Damian de Allende says lining up alongside Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is both exhilarating and unpredictable, as the Springboks prepare for Saturday’s Rugby Championship decider against Argentina at Twickenham.
The 33-year-old midfielder has played with a host of world-class flyhalves in his career, but admits that the generational talent of Feinberg-Mngomezulu brings something different to the Bok backline.
“It’s incredible. I don’t even think Sacha knows what happens next sometimes, which is also a good thing,” said De Allende.
“I do try to help him on the field, I chat to him, let him know where the space is but sometimes you can see that he sees the space before anyone else does.
“I think it’s important for not just me, but all the guys around him, not to take his time and space away. He can create a lot by himself – we just need to make sure that we’re there to support him.”
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De Allende reflected on Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s individual brilliance in the 67-30 drubbing of Los Pumas in Durban, and credited the rest of his teammates for allowing the young pivot to weave his magic.
“It was incredible to watch him on Saturday, but as a team we know we’ve got to get ourselves in the best possible position to make each other look better.”
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Saturday’s clash at Twickenham doubles as a potential history-making moment for the Springboks, who are chasing a first-ever back-to-back Rugby Championship title.
And while much has been made of South Africa’s record at the iconic venue, De Allende believes the occasion is balanced out by Argentina’s familiarity with London too.
“It’s a neutral ground and we have played here quite a lot, but so have they [Argentina] against England,” he explained.
“I don’t think there’s an advantage for us or an advantage for them. I think 60-thousand tickets have already been sold so the atmosphere is going to be incredible and we’re all looking forward to that.”
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Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
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