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De Allende and Kriel at heart of SA rugby’s redemption tale

De Allende and Kriel at heart of SA rugby’s redemption tale
Jesse Kriel on attack in the first Test against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 6 July 2024. (Photo: Johan Orton / Gallo Images)
Jon Cardinelli
By Jon Cardinelli
10 Jul 2024
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Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel will combine for a record 30th time in the Springbok midfield.

Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel will break the Springbok record for the most appearances as a midfield combination when they team up for the 30th time on Saturday, surpassing the legendary centre pairing of Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie.

de allende kriel sa redemption Jesse Kriel on the attack in the first Test against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 6 July 2024. (Photo: Johan Orton / Gallo Images)



The current Bok side has won back-to-back World Cups, a British & Irish Lions series and a Rugby Championship title. If all goes to plan at Kings Park on Saturday, they will add a series victory against Ireland – the Six Nations champions – to their lengthy list of accolades.

It’s a tale of redemption, given what came before.

De Allende and Kriel have been at the heart of this story for so long, and have experienced as much pain as elation in a green and gold jersey over the past nine years. That they are still here and are still rated as the best in the business speaks volumes about their tenacity and determination.

Forged in fire


The 2015 season was a watershed for the Boks in that several promising players were given more responsibility.

After the All Blacks edged the Boks 27-20 in a thrilling contest at Ellis Park, then-coach Steve Hansen went out of his way to praise a young 10-12-13 combination, which comprised Handré Pollard (21), De Allende (23) and Kriel (21).

Unfortunately, these players went on to feature in some of the Boks’ worst defeats. South Africa suffered inaugural losses to Argentina and Japan that season and notched up a first-ever defeat to Italy in 2016.

Pollard missed most of the 2016 and 2017 seasons due to various ailments, but De Allende and Kriel were part of the side dubbed the “worst in Springbok history” after they conceded 50 points to the All Blacks home and away, and sustained record-breaking losses to Ireland and Wales.

Over the course of the two seasons, coach Allister Coetzee used nine midfield combinations, with very little success.

de allende kriel Damian de Allende of South Africa fights off Irish defenders in the first Test at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 6 July 2024. (Photo: FJ Meintjes / Gallo Images)



Few, if any, could have predicted that another golden era for South African rugby was around the corner, or that the Boks would have two world-class midfield combinations – De Allende and Kriel, as well as De Allende and Lukhanyo Am – in the ensuing six years.

Unappreciated until now


Within the squad, there’s always been a healthy appreciation for De Allende’s passing game, while Kriel is often setting the standard in terms of fitness and work ethic.

There was a time – not too long ago – when De Allende was mocked by some media and fans for a perceived inability to pass, while Kriel was unfairly derided for a one-dimensional approach in the wider channels.

Erasmus always believed in the pair, installing De Allende and Am as his preferred midfield combination from the outset, in the first home Test against England in June 2018. At the same time, he brought Kriel into the squad and backed him to play a senior role.

Fast-forward to the present. Both De Allende and Kriel have repaid Erasmus’s faith over a six-year period, and both are starting to receive the widespread plaudits they deserve.

de allende kriel Jesse Kriel on the attack in the first Test against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 6 July 2024. (Photo: Johan Orton / Gallo Images)



At the team hotel on Wednesday, De Allende was asked whether he takes any satisfaction in proving his critics wrong. The inside centre took the opportunity to celebrate his midfield partner, before talking about how the pain of the past has shaped his present success.

“It’s a great achievement, and I just want to say congratulations to Jesse,” De Allende said. “We’ve walked a long road together, and to go past guys like Jean and Jaque is special.

“Some of us remember what it was like to play in 2016 when the team was going through a tough patch and it was quite unpleasant.

“That memory sticks with me because it reminds me of how hard we’ve worked as a team to get to where we are now. All that we’ve been through, that’s what drives me.”

Key part of evolving attack


Attack coach Tony Brown went out of his way to celebrate the two centres earlier this week.

There’s been a lot of talk about the team’s attacking ambition, and they certainly showed their intent in the 27-20 win over Ireland at Loftus Versfeld.

De Allende and Kriel made significant contributions, with the latter winning the Man of the Match accolade.

“Jesse has worked so hard to improve his attack,” Brown said. “Damian is such a physical guy in contact, but most people won’t know that he’s the best passer of a rugby ball in this team.

“We want to unlock those skills and abilities, and push them a bit more,” Brown added.

A lot has changed since Hansen praised a promising trio of backs at Ellis Park nine years ago.

Pollard (now 30), De Allende (32) and Kriel (30) are older, wiser, and have won almost everything there is to win at Test level.

Beating Ireland in a two-match series would tick a big box. Beyond that, the Boks will target a Freedom Cup series victory against the All Blacks – South Africa last held this title in 2009 – as well as the Rugby Championship trophy.

In the lead-up to next week’s match against Portugal, and possibly ahead of the end-of-year tour to the United Kingdom, Erasmus explores younger options with the 2027 World Cup in mind. 

It’s possible that Pollard, De Allende and Kriel will maintain a high standard well into their mid-thirties and feature at the global tournament in Australia, but there are no guarantees.

Andre Esterhuizen is currently with the squad, as is the versatile Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who has played No 12 at United Rugby Championship level before.

At No 13, the Boks have Am and Canan Moodie waiting in the wings. Erasmus recently name-checked Sharks’ centre Ethan Hooker as another young player to watch.

The future certainly looks bright, but for the moment, South African fans should treasure what they have: two of the very best in De Allende and Kriel. DM

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