HE’S BIG ENOUGH to admit it himself, but CJ Stander is now primed to return to his best form after failing to meet his own high standards during the early weeks of the season.
Stander after Saturday's victory over South Africa. Oisin Keniry / INPHO
Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO
It was only a matter of time before the Munster number eight produced a performance of such aggression, robustness and energy again and it must have been particularly sweet for him to conjure it against the country of his birth on Saturday.
Stander firmly put to bed any question marks hanging over his form — and dismissed the notion of a post-Lions slump — during the destruction of the Springboks and yesterday revealed a pre-game pep talk from Joe Schmidt inspired the performance.
“In the beginning of the year I felt I was trying maybe to concentrate on stuff that wasn’t in my control,” he says. “Joe spoke to me before the game and gave a good analogy, said I was like an aeroplane on the runway, I’m there but I’m not going up.
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“So look, I won’t say I’m flying yet, I’m probably on the take off so it was great for me to get the nod from him and to get the responsibility to go out on Saturday and perform.
“It was great. You know what to expect from them as players and as individuals. You give a bit of insight to the boys but just to run out on the pitch again and play in an Irish jersey and represent the boys again and get a win, I feel I didn’t get the opportunity in South Africa a year ago because we didn’t win there and the one time we won I went off the pitch early. There were none of those feelings so it’s been a good week, a good Saturday evening, I really enjoyed it.”
Stander added: “It’s a big boost [to get that talk from Joe]. Sometimes as a player, you go through ups and downs. I think if a coach believes in you and he gives a bit of that motivation, it helps a lot.
Stander speaking at Carton House yesterday. Oisin Keniry / INPHO
Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO
“But I think also, it’s just getting back into the fold, just make sure you work hard towards that weekend. If you work hard in the week, you just go out on the weekend and play. It does give you that confidence.”
In stiff competition with Jack Conan for that starting berth until the Leinster man pulled up with an injury during the week, Stander would have been aware of the need to put in a big shift against the ‘Boks, with Schmidt admitting afterwards that ‘he has been a bit quiet so far this season.’
Granted Stander has looked to add new skills to his game since the Lions tour, and had been nursing a couple of niggles, but it was a welcome sight to see him return to what he does best at the Aviva Stadium — carry hard, cause chaos at the breakdown and make 16 big hits.
And, of course, there was no shortage of motivation against South Africa.
“I try to be vocal every game. Yeah, look, I know most of them so I got a bit of extra treatment,” he continues.
“I understand the language so it makes easier to understand if it’s directed towards me. It was a good game, no niggles really. I think both teams got down to their jobs and if you play for this team, play for Joe, you let that white noise slide and just concentrate on your job.”
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'Joe told me before the game I was like an aeroplane on the runway, I'm there but I'm not going up'
HE’S BIG ENOUGH to admit it himself, but CJ Stander is now primed to return to his best form after failing to meet his own high standards during the early weeks of the season.
It was only a matter of time before the Munster number eight produced a performance of such aggression, robustness and energy again and it must have been particularly sweet for him to conjure it against the country of his birth on Saturday.
Stander firmly put to bed any question marks hanging over his form — and dismissed the notion of a post-Lions slump — during the destruction of the Springboks and yesterday revealed a pre-game pep talk from Joe Schmidt inspired the performance.
“In the beginning of the year I felt I was trying maybe to concentrate on stuff that wasn’t in my control,” he says. “Joe spoke to me before the game and gave a good analogy, said I was like an aeroplane on the runway, I’m there but I’m not going up.
“So look, I won’t say I’m flying yet, I’m probably on the take off so it was great for me to get the nod from him and to get the responsibility to go out on Saturday and perform.
“It was great. You know what to expect from them as players and as individuals. You give a bit of insight to the boys but just to run out on the pitch again and play in an Irish jersey and represent the boys again and get a win, I feel I didn’t get the opportunity in South Africa a year ago because we didn’t win there and the one time we won I went off the pitch early. There were none of those feelings so it’s been a good week, a good Saturday evening, I really enjoyed it.”
Stander added: “It’s a big boost [to get that talk from Joe]. Sometimes as a player, you go through ups and downs. I think if a coach believes in you and he gives a bit of that motivation, it helps a lot.
“But I think also, it’s just getting back into the fold, just make sure you work hard towards that weekend. If you work hard in the week, you just go out on the weekend and play. It does give you that confidence.”
In stiff competition with Jack Conan for that starting berth until the Leinster man pulled up with an injury during the week, Stander would have been aware of the need to put in a big shift against the ‘Boks, with Schmidt admitting afterwards that ‘he has been a bit quiet so far this season.’
Granted Stander has looked to add new skills to his game since the Lions tour, and had been nursing a couple of niggles, but it was a welcome sight to see him return to what he does best at the Aviva Stadium — carry hard, cause chaos at the breakdown and make 16 big hits.
And, of course, there was no shortage of motivation against South Africa.
“I try to be vocal every game. Yeah, look, I know most of them so I got a bit of extra treatment,” he continues.
“I understand the language so it makes easier to understand if it’s directed towards me. It was a good game, no niggles really. I think both teams got down to their jobs and if you play for this team, play for Joe, you let that white noise slide and just concentrate on your job.”
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CJ Stander Ireland Joe Schmidt November internationals November Tests ready to take off