CJ STANDER WALKS into the mixed zone in the bowels of the Aviva Stadium and shakes hands with each of the waiting members of the media. “It’s something I do,” he says.
The Munster man is sporting the battle scars of another day on the frontline, one which saw him score his second international try in the green of Ireland.
Alongside man of the match Jamie Heaslip and the returning Tommy O’Donnell, Stander was outstanding in the backrow as Ireland dominated Scotland for large periods during their 35-25 victory.
After the visitors had taken the lead, very much against the run of play, through Stuart Hogg’s try, Stander restored Ireland’s advantage with a smart, and imaginative, finish in the corner.
It was a score which set Schmidt’s men on their way to a second successive win and the 25-year-old admits it’s something he’s done before.
Advertisement
“I got it down anyway, I got it down,” he explained. “I got a knock on the eye and I was bleeding and I didn’t really know what was going on and got back and got the try.
“I scored one, think it was my second game for Munster against Glasgow, like that and it’s not ideal because someone could just rip the ball out of your hands and it would be a knock on but I saw there was a few bodies flat in front of me so I thought why not and jump over almost like a NFL thing.
“I tried it and it worked, next time it probably won’t.”
Stander has been one of five players to make their debut during this Six Nations campaign and although there wasn’t any silverware on offer today, the significance of the game was not lost on the players.
“The whole week I just thought to myself it is the last game in that jersey for a while and you never know when you’re going to play again,” Stander continued. “I just wanted to give everything I had on the pitch and leave that jersey in a better place and if it happens I go on the summer tour great.
Stander was at his powerful best at the Aviva. Colm O'Neill / INPHO
Colm O'Neill / INPHO / INPHO
“From a team performance, everyone stepped up and boys are going to come back. There’s always competition in every team in the back row and it’s going to be tough to keep that spot but any player that fits in that jersey I’ll support him and they’ll support me.”
Next on Ireland’s agenda is the three-Test summer tour of South Africa. Although the title defence ended limply, Stander believes there is great grounds for optimism heading into the next international window following back-to-back wins.
“It was a physical match, we came out and played first 20 minutes with a lot of possession and we used that. They got back into the game but we ended on a good note and it was good to get the win in the end.
“It gives us a bit of a boost.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
'There were bodies flat in front of me and I thought why not jump over like NFL'
CJ STANDER WALKS into the mixed zone in the bowels of the Aviva Stadium and shakes hands with each of the waiting members of the media. “It’s something I do,” he says.
The Munster man is sporting the battle scars of another day on the frontline, one which saw him score his second international try in the green of Ireland.
Alongside man of the match Jamie Heaslip and the returning Tommy O’Donnell, Stander was outstanding in the backrow as Ireland dominated Scotland for large periods during their 35-25 victory.
After the visitors had taken the lead, very much against the run of play, through Stuart Hogg’s try, Stander restored Ireland’s advantage with a smart, and imaginative, finish in the corner.
It was a score which set Schmidt’s men on their way to a second successive win and the 25-year-old admits it’s something he’s done before.
“I got it down anyway, I got it down,” he explained. “I got a knock on the eye and I was bleeding and I didn’t really know what was going on and got back and got the try.
“I scored one, think it was my second game for Munster against Glasgow, like that and it’s not ideal because someone could just rip the ball out of your hands and it would be a knock on but I saw there was a few bodies flat in front of me so I thought why not and jump over almost like a NFL thing.
“I tried it and it worked, next time it probably won’t.”
Stander has been one of five players to make their debut during this Six Nations campaign and although there wasn’t any silverware on offer today, the significance of the game was not lost on the players.
“The whole week I just thought to myself it is the last game in that jersey for a while and you never know when you’re going to play again,” Stander continued. “I just wanted to give everything I had on the pitch and leave that jersey in a better place and if it happens I go on the summer tour great.
“From a team performance, everyone stepped up and boys are going to come back. There’s always competition in every team in the back row and it’s going to be tough to keep that spot but any player that fits in that jersey I’ll support him and they’ll support me.”
Next on Ireland’s agenda is the three-Test summer tour of South Africa. Although the title defence ended limply, Stander believes there is great grounds for optimism heading into the next international window following back-to-back wins.
“It was a physical match, we came out and played first 20 minutes with a lot of possession and we used that. They got back into the game but we ended on a good note and it was good to get the win in the end.
“It gives us a bit of a boost.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Back row dominant, defensive work-ons and more Ireland talking points
How we rated Ireland in their encouraging win over Scotland
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
CJ Stander Six Nations Ireland Reaction Scotland The flying scotsman the flying stander