19 minutes as Ireland captain and he loved every, single one of them.
Some of the Ireland players that featured in the narrow weekend victory over Fiji cut serious figures after the game. Fans tuning in after the final whistle may have thought Ireland had been turned over, such was the lack of any real joy once Luke McGrath fired the ball dead to end the game.
The overriding feeling was relief but there were furrowed brows as the beaten Fijians applauded them towards the tunnel. Joe Schmidt was late coming to the post-match press conference and it would not be a surprise if one were to learn that he was starting his withering match review right in the Irish dressing room.
The mood was much brighter at Carton House on Monday and it helped that CJ Stander was on media duty.
The Munster flanker had done a fine job as an impact sub – a finisher, if you well – and also had the honour of captaining Ireland when he replaced Rhys Ruddock. Stander entered the fray with the scores locked at 23-17 but, along with James Tracy, Cian Healy and Ian Keatley, had provided an important thrust off the bench.
Taking his seat in the high-ceiling drawing room, Stander joked that he would answer any mobile phone [being used as a recording device] in front of him if they started to ring. “Good luck!”
As part of the matchday 23 for the Fiji game, Stander would have sat in on the Monday morning video review of the game. Turnovers and handling errors had proved costly, he said, but there had been good moments in the 23-20 win.
Asked if he was starting to get used to the super-sub role, having performed the duty for the British & Irish Lions this summer, he pointed out that Saturday was his first time as an Ireland sub. “Look, I will jump into any jersey where I am needed,” he declared. “If that is off the bench, and I need to make an impact, that’s my job then.”
Stander was seen in deep conversation with Kiwi referee Paul Williams when he came on for Ruddock. He revealed what he told Williams:
“I was excited. When you get a call like that to go on, it is a massive honour.
“So I just said, ‘I’m CJ Stander and I’m captain now’.
“And I said about the breakdown, and this and this is it and what I felt was going wrong. He said perfect and on we go. It was just [about] making conversation, you know, so he knows who you are and if he is looking for you, he knows where to look for you.”
Listening back to the match commentary, one can pick up the tail-end of Stander’s chat with Williams. He said:
“I’m captain. I’m captain now. CJ. At ruck times, they’re running in from the wrong sides.”
Pretty much on the money recollection from the Munster flanker.
As for Argentina, this weekend, Stander is expecting a physical challenge against a side willing to attack from anywhere and everywhere on the pitch. Strong set-pieces will be vital in the winning of the game.
With that, his duties were over and the cameras switched off.
“That’s it?” he asked, “We’re done? Happy days!”
