Nonu: Damian is not a revolving door; Rugby 365

All Black veteran Ma'a Nonu does not see Damian de Allende as the soft underbelly of the Springbok defensive line.

The 33-year-old midfield back, closing in on 100 Test appearances for New Zealand, was adamant that De Allende is a centre worthy of his place in the Springbok team.

Speaking ahead of the crucial Rugby Championship encounter between the Springboks and All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday, Nonu dismissed the suggestion that his Bok rival is a revolving door on defence.

It was suggested by members of the media contingent that De Allende had the worst defensive stats in Super Rugby.

Nonu was adamant that those statistics can't be accurate.

"That is a surprising stat, because I have seen him tackle," was Nonu's response to the claims that De Allende is a poor defender.

"He is a pretty good defender," the veteran All Black said, adding: "When  we played the Stormers this year we did a lot of analysis around him and he was their main ball carrier.

"I don't agree with that stats and that is why he is playing for South Africa at No.12.

"We don't want to fall into those traps [of underestimating a player], se we have to be prepared and measure up."

Speaking of the qualities of the Boks' new-look midfield combinations - De Allende and Jesse Kriel - the powerful All Black said they played very well last week against Australia and they have had an outstanding Super Rugby season.

"We will have to be prepare for how they play," he said of a rookie duo that has added some fresh spark to the Bok backline.

"For us, as an All Black side, we expect the unexpected - we never assume stuff.

"When it comes down to the game, players really react to their instincts.

"They may put structures in place on how to attack and how to defend. However, when comes to pressure it is who performs well - we can look at all the clips on how their backline play, but from No.9 to No.15 they are dangerous."

Nonu, one of many seasoned All Blacks who will head abroad after the World Cup, also had some strong views on who the most potent midfield combination is he faced in his 12-year international career.

"The toughest midfield pairing I have come [up] against is probably Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie," he said.

"I remember vividly in 2009, when we played South Africa in Durban and Bloemfontein, we lost those matches. We played them again in Hamilton and lost that as well," he said of a rare three-nil series whitewash by the Boks over the All Blacks.

"That is the [centre] pair, I feel, is the toughest we have come across, me and Conrad Smith."

By Jan de Koning in Johannesburg
@King365ed
@rugby365com

 Well, we all we be watching the match-up of the midfield this weekend Will Mozart earn crowing rights?

 It looks like Fox is a sports journo by trade. 

 JW
I am afraid that Mozart's main dish on this site is always eating crow -  he is the one who try and avoid eating that by shouting and screaming about players - bit those he attacks are always showing him up.  
Hansen seems worried about the Springbok midfield - their combined ages are 64 years of age - the AB's three are 90 years combined - so they look ready for retirement distinguished geriatric candidacy.  

Michael, every one of your big picks have humiliated you! 

 CleverMike; we will have to see if the old timers in the AB back-line can muster the energy to get through the game. I predict they will achieve this

 Of course Damian is not a revolving door. His defence is very good and with futher expereience and the combo with Jessie growing it will be excellent.Take it from Beeno the one who knows!Time to show up the wee abs old timers before its too late! Bwahahahahahhahaha Clearly the wee abs are seriously concerned. 
As for matfield not playing - HOOORAH. AWAY WITH THE CON MAN! How he could have decieved the likes of Dr Mozzzz and Card is astonishing. Its contrarism gone beserk!

 "He is a pretty good defender," the veteran All Black said,Allende, is a very busy defender and even drives forwards backwards - immensely strong. The Wobblies concentrated their defensive efforts on him.We need much more zip from Ruan who ran the ball once was it? Pollard needs to attack when opportunity arises. Tie in their loosies a little.  Lets go ORC hunting Bokke!

Damian isn't a revolving door, just an open one. Let it not be said South Africans are not hospitable!  
I'm sure Nonu and Smith will make themselves perfectly at home at No.12 De Allende Avenue.

 The lies continue unabated.  Disaster will never stop that.   Nonu played opposite De Allende and knows what he talks about - unlike you who specializes in lies and deception.   Remember how De Allende humiliated Fat Fransie earlier this year and then come back and write rubbish again on site.

 Desert Fox, we thank you for your support!
This game should help both teams get some insight into players, e.g. for ABs, Sopoaga; Broadhurst; Codie Taylor in particular but there are also players who are backups, e.g. TJ, Vito, Fekitoa.
I guess the Boks have a few that fall into this category: Hendricks; J. Kriel,  Brussow, Lood, Koch, Flip, Whitely, Mapoe.
So both teams are experimenting and want to learn more about players. No disrespect on either side.

 Poor old de Allende will be a tad confused when he reads Hasbeeno's little gem that he "drives forwards backwards"!I suspect that at Ellis Park he won't know if he's coming or going......

Sounds like the Fox trot
Summary of games at Ellis Park

Nonu: "The toughest midfield pairing I have come [up] against is probably Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie," he said."
Fox, you aren't a Jean fan either.

 
He favours the Bulls.

If it's not a Bull it's not worthy of the Green & Gold.

I'm convinced that he's the fruit of a one on one encounter between sister and brother.

What other explanation can there possibly be??

 JW
De Allende made SBW looks so pedestrian that made Hansen eliminate him from the team this week and Nonu did not look much better against him.  So I am really sorry for Grandpa Nonu in this case.  Same with Grandpa Conrad - who may just find Kriel to strong to handle.   
We will see tomorrow who have most midfield problems - but I think it will not be the youngsters.   
 

Good one Clean. Fox as a boy "sure I'll clean up my toys Aunty mom!"  

 CleverMike: good to see you have some confidence in your man but of course we will have to wait for the re-match

 JW 
I had a serious problem in identifying a center pair for Test Rugby tomorrow.  De Allende is a given - but struggled with the other one.  Alsao had to find at least 3 cheaper players - so here goes with my selections:-
FR   =    Bismarck du Plessis, Dane Coles
LO   =    Eben Etzebeth. Lodewyk de Jager (cheap buy)
BR    =    David Poc ock, Kieran Read
HB    =    Bernard Foley. Lima Sopoaga (cheap buy)
CE    =    Tevita Kuridrani, Damian de Allende (cheap buy)
OB    =    Israel Folau, Jesse Kriel (cheap buy)  

Why is Pollard being exempt from the Boks defensive frailties? He's been just as poor, if not poorer, on the defensive front than De Allende. They have clearly not gel'd properly yet but when they do finally gel they're going to be a devastating combination. 

Ah well.....concerning stuff. At least we dont have to worry about Kuridrani running over Allende for a third time.

The level of difficulty Damian exhibits in straining to defend at even a most basic level is very worrying. At the Pro level, we should certainly expect more. Meyer doesn't have the time with the players to coach basic skills. It's shocking what he has to work with. 
Draad, I said Jean was a more physical presence all along, so no surprise Nonu agrees with me. The very reason why I said all year that Frans or Jean must be 12.

 Disaster
The worst defenders I have ever seen has a common surname - Steyn.  One is Morne with the worst tackle record in tests and other games.  I have never before seen an international player with a missed tackle ratio of 46% at flyhalf.  Fat Fransie is together with De Jongh the worst defending center in SA at present.  Those two take some beating.
If they were any good in attacking play it would have in a way off-set their defensive deficiencies - but Morne never attacks the gain line ever - and Fat Fransie has the worst line break record of any inside center in SA now for three years running in SA.
Next problem they do not know anything about decision-making - they are as slow as that as they are in pace on the filed of play.
The worst flyhalf and no 12 in SA in the professional era - and the worst assessor of player performances ever wants them in the Springbok team.  Our sincere prayers for them to be out of the team is being answered.  The best thing Meyer can do is to send them off to France and Japan respectively asap. 
We cannot have robotic Morne at 10 and slow Fat Fransie at 12.
Incidentally Nonu never said he agrees with your BS - so keep to the truth BSter.         

Point Fox. All of the above discussion has been about Allende as a one on one tackler. We haven't even started to examine his role as captain of the defence....the natural role for number12. 

That was the problem that worried me most last year against the Bargies and after some initial progress for the Stormers, things have gone pear shaped again.

 Mozart
A year or so ago - you claimed that the captain in defense is the no 13 - that was when you tried to motivate Fat Jacque as outside center.  Why did that now move to 12?  Your second sentence betrayed your duplicity once again.  Last year De Allende played at 13 and in the rainstorm in Pretoria he followed up kicks and missed two tackles.    In the away test there was zero problems with his defense at 13.   The difference was he was good in attacking play.
Now can you please make up your mind - who are the "captain in defense" in the backline - is it 12 or 13 - or just one you want it to be?    

T here were problems with his defence in everyone of his 2024 tests. That resulted in him being dropped entirely, and for once the media agreed.

 Disaster
Are you off your trolley again and talking about tests that never took place or may take place in 2023?  
De Allende did not play in tests in 2013 either - so what are you on about here?  Another case of matches that ever took place?
De Allende played out of position at 13 in 2014 for the first time since he left school.  There were two missed tackles of De Allende - playing in his first senior game at 13 for the Springboks in the mud-bath test in Pretoria.  In the second test he played in he missed one out of four attempted tackles - not bad for a rookie.
He was never dropped from the Springbok squad and was on the bench in a subsequent test.   Stop talking crap and stick to facts - please.

I wrote 2024, that was clearly a typo given the context of what I wrote. But this is the closest you will ever get to a successful attack on me, so enjoy the moment I suppose. Have yourself a little Mike-gasm.