Springbok centre Damian de Allende reached his 100th Test cap against the New Zealand All Blacks at Ellis Park on August 22, 2026, anchoring South Africa’s midfield in the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series opener as coach Rassie Erasmus navigated squad adjustments and captaincy changes.
Damian de Allende Enters South Africa’s Test Centurion Club
Centre Damian de Allende became the 10th player in history to earn 100 Test caps for South Africa when the Springboks met the All Blacks in Johannesburg on Saturday. The milestone match at Ellis Park marked the opening fixture of the inaugural Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
For years, the inside centre faced external criticism regarding his passing game, but teammates and coaches repeatedly emphasized that his true value lies in durability, consistency, and physical authority. Springboks assistant coach Tony Brown noted that De Allende’s primary responsibility at No. 12 has always been to generate momentum, set the target, win the collision, and push South Africa across the gainline.
Analysts highlighted that De Allende’s career is defined by high-stakes plays, such as his try against Wales in the 2019 World Cup semi-final with the score locked at 9-all, and his power, acceleration, and offload that released Cheslin Kolbe against England at Twickenham in 2024.
Squad Selection and Captaincy Changes at Ellis Park
South Africa entered the match missing regular captain Siya Kolisi due to injury. Flank Pieter-Steph du Toit captained the side in his absence. Erasmus explained that while Kolisi trained well during the week, the coaching staff opted for a precautionary approach with Kolisi’s return while handing young Paul de Villiers, who has played just three Tests, an opportunity in his first Test match against New Zealand.
The matchday lineup also featured Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at flyhalf, with Manie Libbok on the bench, while Handre Pollard missed out on the matchday-23. Up front, Ox Nche, who got hurt in the Boks’ first match of the season, has recovered and took his place in the starting team. The starting XV featured Damian Willemse, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Grant Williams, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Paul de Villiers, Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, and Ox Nche.
“The All Blacks are a quality team, and we selected combinations we think would be best suited for the challenge this weekend,” said Erasmus.
Erasmus added that the squad benefited from having players return from injury last week to get back into top-flight Test rugby, while some of the others who had a heavy workload in the Nations Championship had sufficient time to recover from the physical toll on them. He also noted that the whole group had been together for over a week and everyone was aligned regarding the way they wanted to play.
Tactical Matchup and Bench Impact
The tactical battle hinged on contrasting approaches. The All Blacks selected a team designed to play with tempo, stretch the Boks across the width of Ellis Park, and challenge them physically and in the air. New Zealand’s recent record in Johannesburg demanded respect, having secured three wins in their past five Tests at the venue.
South Africa relied on a six-two bench split carrying more power than the All Blacks’ five-three selection. The inclusion of replacements such as Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zachary Porthen, Cobus Wiese, Andre Esterhuizen, Marco van Staden, Cobus Reinach, and Manie Libbok provided a second-half forward assault and destruction that New Zealand could not match player for player.
The teams clashed in the first of four Tests at Ellis Park at 5.10pm, with the match broadcast live on SuperSport, setting up an intense battle as both squads prepare for subsequent rounds in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
