British & Irish Lions: Jean de Villiers picks his Springbok centre combo

South African great Jean de Villiers has picked Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am as his Springbok midfield to take on the British & Irish Lions, saying the combination “has really worked for the Boks”.

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The former inside centre, who started in the No 12 shirt against the British & Irish Lions in the first and second Tests in 2009, was a guest on the latest RugbyPass Offload.

Jean de Villiers singled out De Allende as a Springbok player who will play an important role at inside centre having spent the last year playing for Munster.

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“I don’t see a lot of change in terms of the starting line-up that played in the World Cup final, to be honest,” said the 109-cap former Springbok midfielder.

“Being a midfielder myself, Damian de Allende, the way he played recently against Leinster and the performance that he put in, (with) his experience now of playing against a lot of the guys that will be in the Lions squad he has got a massive role to play. Handre Pollard probably will be playing next to him at No 10, but he will need to take on a much more senior role so that will be key for us.”

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While De Allende is plying his trade at Munster, Lukhanyo Am is still at the Sharks where he retained the skipper’s armband despite the arrival of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi.