Rugby
Esterhuizen vs De Allende: Who Should Play Centre for the Springboks?
We take a look at what De Allende and Esterhuizen each bring to the Springboks.
One of the most important strike weapons for any Springbok side is how the inside centre is used on attack and defence. While Damian de Allende has been the de facto choice before and since the 2019 Rugby World Cup, an alternative in Andre Esterhuizen has emerged; so we wanted to look at what each player offers Jacques Nienaber’s team.
Damian De Allende
There’s no doubt that Damian De Allende has the credentials to be a first-choice pick for the Springboks. His impact during the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan can’t be overlooked, as his defence and ball-carrying constantly gave South Africa the ascendency in the midfield. There’s no one in the current global Test arena that has the leg drive and power at centre like that of De Allende. Despite some bigger and ‘stronger’ centres floating around, his ability to gain metres in the contact area is unrivalled.
It’s fair to say that De Allende has some ball-playing abilities too, with his time at the Stormers and some periods at Munster and the Wild Knights in Japan showcasing his ability to offload, find outside backs, and connect with inside players to create a bit of manipulation from his direct approach. However, it is an area that has been somewhat muted in recent games, likely due to a more tactical decision by the Springbok coaching staff, rather than a lack of ability.
Andre Esterhuizen
The 113-kg 29-year-old has become a key player for his side, Harlequins, in the Premiership, linking up with current England flyhalf Marcus Smith, with the two forming a formidable partnership of flair and power. Esterhuizen has had some small cameos for the Boks over the years, but his opportunity to start against the Wallabies a fortnight ago was his real chance to shine.
And shine he did. Esterhuizen looked confident and calm, but delivered the intensity and aggression in the midfield that the Springboks needed. Esterhuizen was dominant in tackles, carried well and made it a tough day on the job for the Australian backs. The former Shark also brought some footwork and distribution skills to the Bok backline, beating a few defenders and getting the ball to the winger timeously and accurately, allowing the likes of Kurtley Arendse and Willie le Roux to explode into space.
Who should take the reins?
When it comes to who should be the first pick centre, the question is also about who the opposition is; and realistically, who works well with Lukhanyo Am. When it comes to De Allende, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone else who can get the Springboks over the gain-line as he can. His slight angle changes and unpredictable footwork just before contact allow him to force weaker tackles from the defence and lets him bag a few extra metres, which always makes the subsequent rucking situation a lot easier.
He’s undeniably committed on defence and has the strength and speed to throw himself into tackles and stop his opposite player from making extra ground.
Esterhuizen offers a similar mould to that of De Allende, although he has his own ‘flavour’ of being a big, powerful No. 12. With his size and speed, it’s difficult for anyone to stop Esterhuizen taking a flat pass, however, he does tend to embrace the contact rather than circumnavigate it like De Allende does. This isn’t necessary a bad thing, as it does wear down the defence of flyhalves and centres he’s taking the ball into, breaking them down physically and mentally. When in loose play, he also likes to offload and attempt to beat whoever is in front of him, which inevitably opens up opportunities for support runners to latch onto a pass to get some extra metres.
His time with the Harlequins and playing alongside the likes of Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Caden Murley, and others has undoubtedly improved his skillset, with his short passing game and vision seemingly the biggest benefactors.
Both players offer a tremendous amount to the Springboks, and are as effective on defence as they are on attack, which is a necessity with the defensive-focused Springbok gameplan. If the Boks want to go with the tried-and-tested option, it’s hard to look past De Allende. But if the Boks are aiming to evolve their attacking ability and have a bit more of a dynamic element in the midfield, perhaps Esterhuizen should get the nod.
Whether this takes place pre or post-World Cup is the risk quandary for Nienaber and Co.
Photo cred: Instagram / Facebook | Springboks