One of the most alluring factors in Damian de Allende’s decision to join Munster after helping South Africa to win the World Cup would have been the prospect of playing in front of Thomond Park crowds. Yet between the pandemic and the abdomen injury which sidelined him for over two months, the second leg round-of-16 tie against Exeter three weeks ago was only the third time he experienced such an occasion.
No wonder he unleashed a guttural roar to the crowd after scoring the 73rd-minute try which sealed their place in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final when they face Toulouse next Saturday at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 3pm).
Indeed, in 35 games for Munster he has only played in front of crowds in 11 of them, and only four have been at home. No player likes playing in empty echo chambers and de Allende is no exception, while clearly the return of Munster’s supporters agrees with him, for he’s scored a try in each of his last three home games.
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- May 4, 2022
