Atkinson embraces de Allende duel as England prepare for Ellis Park altitude test

Seb Atkinson has named Damian de Allende as one of the players who has most influenced his game, even as the Gloucester centre prepares to face the 97-cap Springbok at Ellis Park on Saturday in England’s Nations Championship clash with South Africa.

De Allende has been central to South Africa’s back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories, and at 6‘2” and 17 stone the inside centre carries both the physical presence and the experience to test any opponent. For Atkinson, however, the match-up represents an opportunity rather than a threat.

“The last few years I’ve been watching him and a couple of the other South African players play, particularly in my position,” Atkinson said. “Damian de Allende’s a great ball carrier and he’s got the ability to ball play as well — so similar things to what I’ve been going after in my game for the last few years.”

The 23-year-old was careful to frame de Allende as an inspiration rather than a template. “I’m not going to try and copy him, but he’s a great centre and inspired me along my rugby journey to bring out some bits in my own game. Just him being unapologetically himself is probably something that’s got him as far as he has.”

Atkinson arrives at the fixture with his own growing reputation. He holds rugby’s world record in the Bronco Test — a demanding conditioning drill of repeat short-distance sprints — having clocked four minutes and eight seconds. That physical foundation has underpinned his rapid rise through the Premiership, where he has already faced Manu Tuilagi and Springbok powerhouse Andre Esterhuizen.

The setting adds another layer of challenge. Ellis Park sits 1,753 metres above sea level, and England have been adapting their training programme to the altitude both before and since arriving in Johannesburg.

“Every now and again you notice that you’re breathing a little bit harder than you normally would, but we’ll acclimatise over the next few days and we already have,” Atkinson said. “Monday was our first session where you probably didn’t notice it as much, but definitely when I first got out here I thought it was quite interesting.”

True to his competitive instincts, Atkinson even found a personal upside in the thin air. “Maybe it’s another thing to add to my training plan when I get back, just to give me that little bit of an edge and take a few seconds off my Bronco time.”

For all the physical metrics, Atkinson’s self-assessment centres on decision-making. “I’ve always viewed myself as a very balanced rugby player by trying to make the right decision at the right time. If you are able to do that against the best players in the world, then that’ll only push it on even further. It will be exciting to test myself against the best on Saturday.”