Damian de Allende

South Africa’s centre Damian de Allende (R) is tackled by Ireland’s centre Bundee Aki during the autumn international rugby union test match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva stadium in Dublin on November 11, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Paul FAITH

De Allende struggles to come to grips with Irish weather

Springbok centre Damian de Allende is missing the sun while he prepares to make his Munster debut in Limerick, Ireland.

Damian de Allende

South Africa’s centre Damian de Allende (R) is tackled by Ireland’s centre Bundee Aki during the autumn international rugby union test match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva stadium in Dublin on November 11, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Paul FAITH

Springbok Centre Damian de Allende says that Irish weather takes some getting used to as the World Cup-winner settles into life in Limerick after joining Munster.

De Allende struggles with Irish weather

The former Stormers man has played abroad before, enjoying two stints in Japan but he said he hasn’t really experienced weather conditions like those he has found in Ireland.

 “It has been great,” de Allende said in a video message on Munster’s website.

“The one tough thing I need to get used to is the weather. 

“When people say the weather is quite bad, I didn’t actually believe it. 

“We are getting a little bit of sunshine, but it’s probably once every few days at most, but other than that it has been really good. 

To be at the HPC (high-performance centre) has been great.”

Thomond Park likened to Newlands

De Allende is relishing the prospect of playing in front of the Thomond Park crowd, which he compared to the experience of playing at a packed Newlands.

“To watch the Champions Cup and see games being played at Thomond Park, it just gives me a feeling of the ways the fans are at the Stormers and Western Province,” he said. 

“I’m sure home games are out of the world in terms of the noise and everything like that. I’m really looking forward to that first home game. Hopefully, by the time we get to that first home game supporters will be allowed to enter the stadium. I’m very excited. I’m looking forward to pulling that jersey on, and we can make great memories.”

De Allende still buzzing from World Cup

De Allende comes into a Munster setup that heavily influenced coach Rassie Erasmus who directed the team the Springboks to the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The centre says that winning the World Cup hasn’t really sunk in for him, but the memories of the tournament and the subsequent victory parade around South Africa are something he will cherish forever.

“I don’t think it has sunk in yet,” de Allende said. 

“It will sink in when I give it a few more years because I don’t think we realised at the time what we did for our country. It was awesome to win the World Cup, and then go and celebrate my brother’s wedding as well.

“I have never seen Cape Town like that before. I cried probably five or six times on the bus because it was just a bit overwhelming, but it was a very good experience. It was something that I can’t really explain, it’s just something that you have to experience first-hand.”