Damian de Allende expects the much-anticipated July series between the world champion Springboks and Ireland in the Republic to be “like a war”.
The Boks kick off the 2024 season on 22 June against Wales in London before returning home for back-to-back Tests against the Irish on 6 and 13 July, in Pretoria and Durban respectively.
The South Africans have dominated the rivalry in the professional era, winning 10 of the 18 meetings between the teams, but Ireland are in search of a first series win down south on the back of a 3-0 record.
Andy Farrell’s men beat South Africa in an intense 2023 Rugby World Cup pool-stage clash in France, before the reigning Six Nations champions exited in the quarter-finals while Rassie Erasmus’ troops marched on to glory.
It sets the stage for a blockbuster rematch between the world’s top two sides, and speaking to former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton in the latest episode of RugbyPass’ Walk the Talk, De Allende highlights the enormity of the occasion.
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“The Test match in Dublin in 2022 was a tough loss [16-19], so there have been a few tough games against them,” the two-time Bok world champion said.
“We lost to them in 2017 when they beat us 38-3. The way the media spoke, they completely disrespected us. So for us as a group and for us as Springboks it is about getting respect back, not their respect, but our own respect.
“We don’t need to but we really want to beat Ireland. It is going to be an incredible Test match.”
“I’m looking forward to it the most because it is the first Test match for us together as a group after we have won the World Cup in front of our own crowd,” De Allende added.
“We never got that luxury after winning the 2019 World Cup because of Covid and everything like that. That first game against Ireland at Loftus, whether I play or not, it is just going to feel almost like a war.
“A lot of people give them credit for being No 1 in the world because they play such good footy but that’s going to be a flippin’ incredible battle.”
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