De Allende worthy of Boks – Fleck

Editor

Stormers assistant coach Robbie Fleck has backed in-form utility back Damian De Allende to challenge for a Springbok berth.

Stormers assistant coach Robbie Fleck has backed in-form utility back Damian De Allende to challenge for a Springbok berth.

Blessed with size and strength, pace and an eye for a gap, the performances of De Allende have offered Allister Coetzee a rare positive as the Cape Town franchise suffered a testing start to their Super Rugby campaign.

Utilised chiefly on the wing, the Stormers' game-breaker enjoyed an eye-catching display in his side's 28-12 derby loss to the Bulls on Saturday, with that Loftus outing following a try-scoring show in their home win over the Highlanders a week earlier.

Inside centre is De Allende's preferred position, where logically he can force a greater impact on the game than out wide – the same slot taken by ex-Boks star Fleck during an impressive international career.

Fleck said the player's performances this season, wherever he has played, have been “phenomenal”, and reckons that, with such versatility and dynamic go-forward, De Allende should be an attractive prospect to South Africa head coach, Heyneke Meyer.

With skipper Jean de Villiers nursing a shoulder knock, De Allende may be handed a start in his treasured number 12 jersey as the Stormers welcome the flying Force to Newlands on Saturday, especially since winger Kobus van Wyk is fit to take over out wide.