In reading the following article I think that Meyer would really take note of the situation:-
"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."
De Allende was phenomenal in his last few matches - if the following stats were taken into account:-
de Allende
2/2
10
6/24/47
260
7
11
6
7
4/1
0/0
0
0/0
In all four games De Allende played on the wing - but the best plays in which he played a crucial role is borne in mind - it was in midfield where he sets things going - not necessarily on the wing.
There is no SA backline player who can boast 2 tries and 2 try assists in 4 games. He His passing stats also indicate that he was more in midfield than would normally be expected from a wing. He carried the ball 47 times for a meter gain of 260 meters - ie a average of 5.5 meters per carry. He made 7 line breaks beating 11 defenders and off-loaded the ball 6 times.
Looking at the broader scenario I think that De Allende would do better at 13 than at 14 - and punt him for that position. However, I think that De Villiers would rather like to play outside of him - bearing his line breaking and off-loading abilities in mind.
.
