CJ STANDER HAS a system for his man-of-the-match awards, which continue to multiply as his longstanding form for Munster fails to show any signs of slowing up.
Sitting on the table in his house in Limerick are four of the vases the back row collects so regularly. But they have only a limited shelf life before going into storage.
“I move the new ones in, and the old ones go away to the garage for when I have room for them at some stage,” says the Ireland international with a smile.
His wife, Jean-Marié, likes to fill each of the vases with flowers, so part of Stander’s system is to buy four fresh bouquets every week.
“Four bunches of flowers every week. It’s costing me at this stage!”
26-year-old Stander has never taken the time to count up all of the awards he’s earned since arriving in Ireland in 2012. The fact that the Pro12 don’t track stats in this department means it would be tricky to figure out without getting into Stander’s garage.
The Munster man certainly won’t be pausing to take stock any time soon.
“One day, it’ll be good to sit down somewhere and reflect on what I’ve got and what I’ve achieved, but there’s still a lot to work to get up for.”
The likelihood is that Stander has plenty more man-of-the-match awards to gather in the coming months with Munster and Ireland, as his sheer consistency of impact on games continues to astound.
The number eight was excellent once again in Paris last weekend as Munster hammered Racing 92 on a 32-7 scoreline, although the likes of Donnacha Ryan were equally deserving of the individual honour Stander picked up.
“Simon Zebo was trying to make jokes about it, saying that I pay someone but Quinny [Alan Quinlan, now a Sky Sports analyst] wasn’t there this weekend, so he couldn’t select me!” says Stander.
Stander is happy to laugh about it all, but his determination to look forward is deadly serious. He has improved as a player with every season at Munster, while his explosion into Test match rugby with Ireland in 2016 was impressive too.
The try Stander scored at Stade Yves du Manoir, galloping over from 35 metres out and fending Chris Masoe en route, showed that he continues to grow as a player.
“Those tries, you always see boys score them and never get on the end of them [yourself],” says Stander. “The last few years, I’ve tended not to get into space a lot of times. I always get those one-metre carries over the line, those 30-centimetre ones where I don’t get a good bit of space.
“So, for me it’s a great high point and one of those tries that will probably be my best try for my career. Unless, hopefully, I get another one this week.”
Glasgow have been warned ahead of the crucial Champions Cup clash at Scotstoun on Saturday, when a win for Munster would secure them a quarter-final place.
As Racing assistant coach Ronan O’Gara pointed out post-match last weekend, the most impressive factor in the try was that Stander blocked down a Benjamin Dambielle kick and then worked his way back into the attacking line to strike on the very next phase.
Is he fitter now than ever before?
“All of us are fitter,” says Stander. “For us, it comes down to work rate. You just keep on working for each other. So, with our defence set-up the way it is, where you get off the line, it was just the right place to make the block down.
“You’ve just got to work back and the ball could have went to the other side and I wouldn’t have gotten the ball from Pete [O'Mahony]. Rory Scannell was straight on to the ball to recover, to go down and make it quick ball. Literally, it comes down to work rate.
“But I think we’re fitter too, Aled [Walters] in the S&C has put a lot of work into everyone, but also individually – what’s your specific need for your body? I’ve been here now for almost five years and they know exactly what I need fitness-wise and strength-wise. They’re on the top of their game.”
Stander’s confidence in his body is a reflection of his state of mind across the board, and his mindset mirrors that of Munster right now.
The confidence Munster carry with them at present is essential, allowing their players to perform much closer to their potential than was the case last season, when the southern province struggled for belief at crucial times.
“There’s definitely a line between arrogance and confidence,” says Stander when asked about the contrast between this season and last.
“It’s a good feeling. The last few years, after we lost – at one stage, five in a row – you get to a stage when everyone is looking at the stuff we’re doing wrong, not the stuff we’re doing right.
“So, I think the way Axel gave us to play, the way Rassie bought into the game, Fla, Felix, and Jacques - [they say to] just go out there, get yourself into battles, win those battles, and after that just enjoy it.
“That’s something we’ve bought in, just a bit of enjoyment in the game. Just to try something. If you try your best and it doesn’t work well, then you can’t see that as a negative. As long as you don’t do something and just go half-hearted.”
The mentions of Munster’s backroom team, from head of athletic performance Aled Walters through to the coaching staff are pertinent, for they too are performing with excellence at the moment.
Erasmus and defence coach Jacques Nienaber have deservedly garnered credit for their impact after arriving last summer, but the inexperienced Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones have been doing fine work too.
“Felix is a perfectionist,” says Stander of the province’s technical coach. “Everything has to be perfect on his side so we’re prepared for the week ahead. He’s passionate. He’ll start talking in a meeting and he’ll get so passionate you can feel it on a Monday, and you’re almost ready to play!
“For a guy who played only a year ago, he’s one of the top coaches I’ve worked with. He’s got a good balance between coaching players and being friends with them, guiding them, especially with younger guys.”
Flannery, meanwhile, has taken on greater responsibility with the forwards since Anthony Foley’s death, extending his workload beyond the scrum duties – which have led to an excellent Munster scrum.
“He works hard, he makes sure he’s the best, he’s got confidence in his work,” says Stander of the former Ireland hooker. “He’s energetic. He’s always been the same – I didn’t know him as a player, but he seems the same. Everything has to be the best, and that brings the best out of all the players.
“He works very well with the props. He spends extra time with them, so that maybe if someone from the edge of the squad is coming in, he’ll make sure he’s on par with everyone else. You can’t take away his knowledge, and he gives that to a lot of players.”
– First published 06.30
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Marvellous player. Despite Paul Kimmages comments I’m absolutely delighted we get to see him line out in green. A lions tourist too I’d imagine.
@Bazalicous Dunne: Kimmage can stick to what he knows best, knowing what a tainted urine sample is and forget about the ethics of the gentleman’s game.
What does Paul Kimmage know about rugbY?
Good question
I agree lads. I loved the way Kimmage stood up to Armstrong etc and everyone is entitled to their opinion but I love having Stander in the Irish team he gives 100% everytime he plays and is a credit to Munster and Ireland.
Kimmage was only expressing an opinion lads, keep the knickers on! And it was an opinion that’s shared by a great many in the rugby community, that the three year residency rule is too short, it wasn’t a dig at CJ but at the rule…
Suprised Kimmage hasn’t used this article as the basis for his next exclusive sports exposure.
“South African forward, CJ Stander denies all claims of bribery to both Pro12 and European Champions Cup organisers. Irish international and record Munster try scorer, Simon Zebo is understood to have blown the whistle on Standers ‘cash-for-awards’ racket. More to follow . . . . “
And that would be fine if it wasn’t for the fact that Kimmage has almost nothing positive to say about rugby at all. A lot of people, myself included, are so fed up with his constant negative opinions. Also, he said he would prefer if he wasn’t playing for Ireland at all, not that the residency rule is too short.
@Conor Cahill: Septic comment …. Kimmage talks about real issues while the rest of ye fondle yourselves over Stander.
Someone should tell kimmage to get on his bike. He wasn’t very good at that so wouldn’t get very far.
@Paul O’Connor: Well he did win numerous sports book of the year award for ‘Engage’ the Matt Hampson story …. so probably something.
@Chris Mcdonnell: Unless by far you mean the entire length of the Tour de France route… multiple times…. in which case he probably could.
Superb
Kimmage has nothing positive to say ever
The best forward in Ireland , hands down.
He’s on fire at the moment that’s for sure. I’d argue that Rory Best is Ireland’s most important forward but that’s just me. Munster and Ireland are bloody lucky to have CJ :-)
I think you’re doing Rory Best and Jack McGrath amongst others a disservice there.. but he is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best back rowers. Himself Seany and Jamie are a trio to be very feared in the 6 nations!!
@Bazalicous Dunne: That award goes to Jack McGrath, “hands down”.
Super player and if he continues to develop may reach the levels of Heaslip. But the fact is neither him nor Payne or Strauss should be playing for Ireland after 3 yrs, quite frankly it’s a joke if a law and I couldn’t care less with the argument that other countries do it, its plain wrong. I really hope Aki decides against playing for Ireland. 5 years minimum ..Cue the red thumbs but hey that’s my opinion!
@Marc McFachir: I think he surpassed that level 2 years ago when Heaslip’s form was a bit edgy for a while. Good to see Heaslip pick it up this season but nobody really comes close to CJ for consistency. The only other player that constantly played at the highest level in every game was Paul O Connell. When you’re talked about in the same manner as him, we know we’re onto a winner.
All these comparisons between CJ and Jamie are irrelevant and a waste of time. They both might play 8 for their clubs but they are extremely different types of players. CJ is the ball carrying beast and Heaslip is the most intelligent player in the country. We’re blessed to have both.. let’s stop the constant comparisons.
@Martin Quinn: Maybe. Perhaps a bit early for that comparison. Time will tell.
Marc, If they are good enough, they are Irish enough. Not the main sport, buy look how these boys bring us on and help us hold our own.
At the age of 26 he still hasn’t hit his peak that’s a frightening taught ,I can only imagine how much better he can get ,pure gent on and off the pitch ,the boks must be kicking themselves
Best No8 in Ireland by a margin.
Its a close one between himself and Heslip. I’d definitely rate stander above Heslip, but the competition between them drives them both to improve, so I can’t see Heslip being dropped any time soon. When he finally does retire, or get unlucky with ingury, stander is perfect to move from 6 to 8
I think he’d be behind Heaslip and Conan at no. 8. Conan comprehensively outperformed Stander in Thomond Park
Not a hope is Conan anywhere near CJ
Agreed on his way to fine player just needs more game time
I normally hate what Kimmage has to say, but he wasnt unfair this time. He actually complimented CJ in the interview and Paul Wallace agreed with what he had to say. Money corrupts professional sports unfortunately. Most ex players are against the 3 year rule. Current players arent gonna say anything though because theyre team mates with the lads. 5 years and citizenship would be much better in my opinion. Or a rule that a certain % (lets say 70% for example) has to come through a countries acadamy system, thus limiting the amount of poaching going on.
@Rudiger McMonihan: Considering how short careers can be, specifically international careers when you need to be at your peak to get selected I have no issue with the three year rule. Extending it seems unfair on players like Stander, Payne, etc who are clearly committed to playing for Ireland. If they stick it out for 5 years before they can play, then all you’ve really done is deny the team, the players and the fans of two of the best years of a committed player’s test career. If you’d like to see less foreign players in national teams then perhaps there should be a rule limiting each national team to 3 foreign players per 23 man match day squad. This would put the pressure on the union and coaching team, and not on the player.
You’re missing the point entirely, Bananaman. Why not just allow foreigners play straight away if your only concern is missing out on a player’s best years.
The idea behind increasing the residency period would be to remove the attractiveness of buying in foreigners in the first place
Whoever’s coaching the Munster maul is doing a very impressive job. The patience and technical prowess in reforming the maul was first-rate. As O’Gara said, there’s a lot of impressive detail in their play, which is a big improvement on the basic stuff they were playing under Foley
Not really bothered what Paul Kimmage thinks. SA loss is our gain. CJ has made a commitment to Munster and Ireland and deserves all the plaudits he gets. If it’s good enough for NZ why not Eire. :-)
CJ could be next captain ?
3 year rule is not right. Kimmage was talking about the rule not the player really. I don’t think you can call it the gentleman’s game anymore with the drug abuse and extreme violent conduct.
Here here Martin
@Cb2010: Kimmage name checked Stander specifically, rather than refer to the residency rule in general, which was necessary. Basically, Kimmage has nothing good to say about rugby.