CJ Stander did the No.8 role, and the No.24 jersey, proud on Saturday but he couldn’t be prouder of the fans.
The South African forward, who should be involved in Ireland’s November Tests, admitted he was strangely calm for most of Munster’s Champions Cup match-day at the weekend.
He wanted to go out there and deliver the sort of performance Anthony Foley, his late coach, knew he was capable of. He clutched onto teammates’ jerseys during a pristine minutes’ silence, did an immense job on the pitch and constantly urged men on.
It was only after the final whistle that events from an emotionally draining week caught up on him. He allowed his eyes to tear up and took a few moments to himself out on that Thomond Park pitch before he collected himself.
He then went to escort Foley’s young sons, Dan and Tony, to the centre of the pitch to take part in an unforgettable version of Stand Up And Fight.
Stander was the most emotional I have ever seen him, following the match, but he managed to get through most of his press duties without too much pause. When he needed a moment, though, he drew a deep breath and took one.
He was keen to impart his thanks, and the thanks of his team, to the fans that packed Thomond to its rafters and paid such spine-tingling respect to Foley. Stander said:
“We were down to 14 men for 60 minutes and there was a stage, 53 minutes in, when we were tired. It was an emotional week and everything came on top of each other.
“I just looked up, and everyone looked up, and we got this massive roar. I could say ‘It lifts you’ but it really, really lifts you.
“A guy like Jaco Taute – when he scored his try, I heard there was a great picture of him holding his Munster crest. Stuff like that picks you up. The crowd picks you up.
“That’s one of the best days I have ever had in this stadium. I don’t think I’ll ever have a bigger day than that – just to see the support out there and the lift we got from the warm-up and when we ran back to the changing room.”
A day to remember but Stander wants to repay the fans with many, many more.
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