'World-class' Damian De Allende provides timely boost for Munster

Van Graan didn’t rule out playing De Allende this weekend when the province faces Ospreys in Swansea

Damian de Allende back training with Munster in Limerick ahead of the weekend trip to Wales. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

How happy was Johann van Graan to see Damian De Allende this week? Well, let’s just say that the Munster coach picked him up from Shannon Airport when the World Cup-winning centre returned from his Rugby Championship duties with South Africa.

De Allende flew in on Sunday and the sight of him wearing the club’s training kit as he joined a session at the high-performance centre in Limerick yesterday will have gladdened the heart of the coaches, players, and every member of the Red Army.