CJ Stander is a ball-carrying machine. You know it, we know it. Every single team, player and coach in New Zealand seem to know it too.
The Ireland back-row smashed Six Nations carrying stats earlier this year and was having such a good season for Munster, too, that he was well in the mix for European Player of the Year [Owen Farrell ended up with that one].
A niggling ankle issue has halted his charge slightly and every Kiwi team the Lions face has Stander’s card marked. They know he wants to carry and they know how much damage he can do if he builds up a head of steam.
So far, in two starts and one substitute appearance [of 25 minutes], Stander has carried a whopping 48 times. He invariably gets over the gainline but not by much – his 48 carries have been for 98 metres gained. He is being as well marshalled as possible.
Kevin McLaughlin did spot one Stander decision that could yet have a massive impact on the upcoming Test Series. The former Leinster and Ireland flanker discussed Stander’s slight, but important, change in approach on The Hard Yards rugby podcast [from 56:00].
McLaughlin was delighted to see Stander draw in Highlanders centres Teihorangi Walden and Malakai Fekitoa before offloading to Dan Biggar, who was off his left shoulder. He said:
“Against the Highlanders, I saw CJ Stander do something he hasn’t done all season. He went into contact and he offloaded post contact.
“The reason he hasn’t done that is he has been used to going forward, they recycle and they score on the next phase. Obviously, they’re beginning to learn.
“CJ went through contact, made a risky offload and got it to Biggar, who got it to Jonathan Joseph and they scored a try. I hope that is beginning to click now – that players have to do something different if they are to score and if they are going to be successful in New Zealand.”
While McLaughlin is calling for more moments like Stander’s, he concedes that it will not come easy and will require players to go outside their comfort zone.
“It’s a mindset thing as well. From the age of 15, 16 in places like New Zealand and Australia, it is bred into them that they need to look for offloads in contact. Keep it alive; don’t die with the ball.
“In the northern hemisphere it is more related to the weather conditions but it is also a mindset thing – you take it to the ground, you recycle and you go again. That’s the way Munster do it, that’s the way CJ does it and he’s amazing at it – he gets over the gainline every time.
“But, you could see he was looking to get it away post-contact and they’re obviously beginning to realise you have to try something different and him being used as a battering ram isn’t working.”
It is certainly a valid point made by McLaughlin.
Stander is not in action this weekend but keep an eye out for the Lions other ball carriers trying to keep that ball alive a little longer.
